Read What President Buhari Told Released Lecturers, Policewomen

By Jide Afolabi

President Muhammadu Buhari has told the recently released University of Maiduguri lecturers and police women, that his administration did not relent in its efforts to rescue them since their abduction by Boko Haram.

The lecturers were part of a team searching for oil in the Lake Chad Basin.

Buhari met with them at the presidential villa on Monday, said he was saddened by the incidents and had worked to ensure they were released.

He said: “I can assure that apart from your family members, every peace loving Nigerian prayed for your safety and wished for your early release from the hold of your abductors.

“Your rescue on the 10th of February this year was a very huge relief to me personally as well as to all Nigerians.

“Let me say that this government treasure all human lives, particularly that of its citizens and following your abductions, the security agencies were directed by me to do everything humanly possible to ensure the safe release of every one of you and other persons under hold of the insurgents”.

“This was because the groups responsible for your abduction were not only different but based in different locations that if not properly handled could result in dire consequences”, he added.

The president appreciated all the various security agencies for their professionalism throughout the process, as well as “other agencies of government, sister nations in the Lake Chad region, the International Committee of the Red Cross who have contributed to this feat of bringing you all home safely”.

Buhari further expressed his administration’s readiness to rescue all those abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists especially against the backdrop of the recent incident where another group of girls was abducted on February 19 from Government Science and Technical Girls College, Dapchi, Yobe State.

“I have since directed all security agencies to immediately ensure that every effort is directed to ensure the safety of our schools and students as well as bringing back the abducted girls to their families.

“Government remains unrelenting towards rescuing all those abducted. Government will also work closely with all stakeholders especially the United Nations and other donor agencies, voluntary organizations towards rehabilitating and resettling all those displaced as a result of all these conflicts, to quicken resumption of meaningful social economic activities.

“I remain very mindful of the pains and injury collectively meted out by the insurgents and we will ensure that government does not leave any stone unturned to degrade and contain these insurgents and ensure that complete peace returns to our land,” Mr. Buhari said.

Meanwhile, the President had directed the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC) to issue discharged certificate to the person affected by the abduction stating that, NYSC “should give a certificate of discharge to the person that spent the remaining of her service somewhere else (with abductors)”.