A new twist into efforts aimed at rescuing the 200 girls of the Government Girls College, Chibok unfolded Wednesday with the Nigeria Police force announcing a mouth watering cash reward of N50million to anyone who volunteers credible information that will lead to their rescue.
Making the disclosure in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations officer, CSP Frank Mba, the Police called on all Nigerians and general public to be part of the solution to the present security challenge.
It assured all citizens that any information given would be treated anonymously and with utmost confidentiality.
The Force urged all patriotic citizens with such useful information to contact the following numbers: 09-2914649, 08081777309, 08055547536, 08032125050, 08034617591 and 08035969731.
Meanwhile, the Defence headquarters has assured protesters from different parts of the country that it was treating the issue of the abduction of over 200 school girls from Chibok town in Borno state as a special test case pointing out that the military is committed to bringing back the girls.
Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade made the disclosure to the media and scores of protesters after a closed door meeting between selected leaders of the a protest group that stormed DHQ and top officers of Defence headquarters.
According to General Olukolade “Nigerian military is freshly committed to finding the girls. Let me assure the Nigerian the public that the best will be done to bring back our girls safe and alive. Please, keep supporting us, keep praying along. We will get result very soon.”
One of the leaders of the protesting group, Dr Jibrin Ibrahim in his response said, “The key outcome of the interaction we have had is that the priority for this nation, for the military and for us, the Civil Society is to bring back our girls.”
“They have committed to intensifying their efforts, but above all to produce results in the shortest possible time. They have briefed us fully about the activities they have engaged in, a lot of which we do not want to reveal in the open”.
Dr Ibrahim added, “I want to assure you that the very clear message we got from them is that their engagement is serious, is being escalated and is focused on the objective of bringing back our girls alive and safe.”
While speaking with the protesters, General Olukolade told them, “Your concerns are our concerns, these children are our children as well, in this building you see here, there are people who have children and relations among those people; so we equally share your concern and be sure that we are not leaving Nigerians alone.”
Furthermore, he said, “we are not shirking our responsibilities. This meeting will give us the opportunity to explain to you the efforts that are ongoing at the level of the military and the government; be sure that every effort is ongoing to bring back our daughters and our children alive.”
One of the protesters Saudatu Mahdi, who read from a prepared speech said, “Millions around the world have been unable to come to terms with the loss; today millions of Nigerian women and men call on the federal government and the security agencies to find and bring back these girls currently living in captivity”.
She added, “These young girls are daughters, sisters, nieces, women and mothers; those that are directly affected grieve and we as Nigerian and Human beings join them in their anguish and distress, we want them back safe in their homes where they belong.”
Mahdi also said the trend of conflicting information about the exact number of the girls that are missing are weak and unconvincing adding “This makes it imperative for all Nigerians to amplify and demand of those with the responsibility to for the safety of all Nigerians to act and constructively engage to find and return these girls to their parents.”
“As citizen it is our right and responsibility to ask question so we ask that in this age of Google maps and Ariel surveillance, how is it possible that the rescue of over 200 girls is giving us so much challenge”.
Chairman Chibok Community in Abuja, Hosea Tsambido in tears, begged the federal government to do everything possible to bring back the girls.
Among the top military officers who hosted the protesters at the Defence Headquarters included the Chief of Administration, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor, Director Defence Communication, Major General Odunukwe, Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal A. Iya, and Director Military Intelligence, Major General L. W. Wiwa.
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