Buhari receives Boko Haram captives, vows to “go to any length” to free Dapchi schoolgirls
President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, today, received three lecturers of the University of Maiduguri and one of the women released recently by the Boko Haram sect.
The lecturers had been abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Magumeri, Borno State.
The women were kidnapped while escorting the corpse of a policewoman to Askira Uba for burial.
Buhari has said the safe arrival of his guests from the terrorists’ den has brought him much joy.
“There were the University of Maiduguri lecturers, abducted while on service to their fatherland, and also the women abducted from a funeral procession. Today they are safely back home, and Nigeria rejoices with them and with their families,” the president said following the guests’ arrival at the Villa.
“I can’t fully express the joy I felt I this afternoon, as I received our citizens recently released from Boko Haram captivity—fathers, mothers, sons, daughters.
“We will go to any length to ensure that no one is left behind in the hands of terrorists. Every Nigerian life matters!”
Buhari further said the returnees revealed to him that they had lost all hope of returning home safely, and went on to pledge that his government would ensure the safe return of all abducted persons – including the recently kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirls.
“They told me that they had given up all hope of ever coming back alive. I assured them that we will never give up on any of our citizens. I have asked the security agencies to ensure that every abducted person—including the Dapchi girls—is safely released,” he said.
The Federal Government has confirmed that a total of 110 Dapchi schoolgirls are in captivity.
