All Abducted Persons Will Be Rescued Safely, Buhari Reassures

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, reassured Nigerians that all abducted persons by insurgent groups, including the schoolgirls from the Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe, would be rescued safely.

Buhari gave the reassurance when he received three rescued lecturers of University of Maiduguri and 10 Police Officers’ wives at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The President stated that he had directed all security agencies to ensure safety of schools and students in the North-East region and other parts of the country.

Buhari said his administration would not relent until it rescued all those abducted.

He noted that the rescue of the abducted persons on Feb. 10 was a `very huge relief’ to him and to all Nigerians.

“While thanking the security agencies and all those who facilitated this, let me clearly reiterate the resolve of this administration to ensure that all persons abducted by insurgents are rescued or released safely.

“This is especially against the back drop of the recent sad incident where another group of girls were abducted on Feb. 19, from the Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe.

“I have since directed all security agencies to immediately ensure that every effort is directed to ensure the safety of our schools and students and bring back the abducted girls to their families,’’ he said.

The president told the rescued persons that apart from their family members, every peace-loving Nigerian also prayed for their safety and wished them early release from the hold of their captors.

“While government was fully aware of the expectations of your families and the general public for your immediate freedom, the path to your freedom was painstaking and protracted.

“This was because the group responsible for your abduction was not in a particular location but based in different locations that if not properly handled, could result in dire consequences.’’

He thanked all the various security agencies for their professionalism throughout the process of the freedom of the rescued persons.

Buhari also lauded other agencies of government, sister nations in the Lake Chad region and the International Committee of the Red Cross for their contribution to the safe release of the abducted persons.

The President also assured that the Federal Government would work closely with all stakeholders to rehabilitate and resettle all those displaced as a result of insurgency.