CHILDREN’S DAY: Buhari Restates Commitment Over Missing Chibok Girls

Pres. Mohammadu Buhari

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that his administration has not closed its chapter on the mandate to finding over 200 Chibok girls seized in April 2014 by the Islamic dreaded terrorist sect, Boko Haram.

Buhari who made this remarks during this year’s Children’s Day celebration noted that the recent rescue of Amina Ali Nkeki and Sarah Luka all of Chibok was evidence that government is not relenting in its task to recover the missing girls from their secret places of captivity.

Represented by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Muhammad Bello, Buhari also called for an end to all forms of abuse and exploitation against the child, including abduction and forced early marriage adding that there is urgent need for all stakeholders, including parents and communities at all levels to protect children against any form of violence.

“No child or indeed any Nigerian should be put through the brutality of abduction, violence or forced marriage in whatever form, stressing that every girl has a right to education and choice of life”, he said.

In view of this, the President directed the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to liaise with other agencies to work out appropriate programmes including actions and measures that would help in tackling violence and abuse against children.

While wishing the children happy celebration, the President enjoined them to always imbibe good conducts especially respecting their parents, teachers and elders which is a first step towards submitting to constituted authorities and the nation at large.

Emphatically, the President called on parents to be good guardians by taking responsibility in teaching their children to live exemplary life, a life of honesty and love for the country.

In the same vein, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Jumai Alhassan who was also represented at the occasion by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Binta Adamu Bello said that  government would not leave any stone unturned in protecting the rights of the children as well as coming up with good policies that will have positive impacts on their upbringing.