The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to securing the release of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls and Leah Sharibu, emphasizing that they have not been forgotten. A total of 276 girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, 2014. Eleven years later, 87 girls are still believed to be in captivity, while Leah Sharibu remains the only Christian girl from a subsequent abduction in Dapchi.
During a multi-agency meeting on anti-kidnapping in Abuja, Major General Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, stated that efforts to rescue the remaining girls have not ceased. He highlighted that previous rescues were the result of gradual negotiations and operations, not one-time efforts.
Laka underscored that silence in the media does not equate to inaction from the government, assuring that they remain focused on the plight of the abducted girls. He expressed hope for their eventual rescue, emphasizing that many factors, including marriages to insurgents, complicate the situation.
The meeting also addressed the activities of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, which has been established to enhance coordination among military and law enforcement agencies. The cell aims to improve responses to kidnapping incidents through better intelligence sharing and operational linkages at the state level.
Laka concluded by urging patience and collective efforts toward achieving the government’s goals regarding the kidnapped individuals.
