A Call for the Release of the Abducted Nigerian Girls

A Call for the Release of the Abducted Nigerian Girls

President of the African communities Forum Inc. (ACOFI), Kizito Essuman, has appealed to the African community and the people of New Zealand to join the campaign calling for the release of the innocent Nigerian schoolgirls who have been abducted by the militant group, Boko Haram.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those abducted girls. I appeal to the New Zealand African community, the nation and the global community to contribute or assist where they can for the immediate release of the girls.” said Mr Essuman.

The schoolgirls were taken by the militant group, Boko Haram when they raided the Chibok boarding school on the 14th April. Over 200 of the girls were abducted from the Chibok school. The Nigerian government has been criticised for being too slow to respond to the situation and to accept international help. The Nigerian authorities are now working closely with the international community to find and free the schoolgirls. Many people around the world including the US first lady Michelle Obama have spoken out against the abduction and joined the global campaign “#BringBackOurGirls”

The recent release of a video by Boko Haram whose name means “Western education is a sin” shows the face of some of the 276 schoolgirls who were abducted from the Chibok school. Not all the girls were shown in the video and some of the girls shown might have been those from previous abductions. The Nigerian Special Duties Minister Taminu Turaki recently said the government is willing to open communication with the militant group in order to secure the release of the school girls.

“We are willing to carry that dialogue on any issue, including the girls kidnapped in Chibok, because certainly we are not going to say that [the girls’ abduction] is not an issue” said Minister Turaki.

“These schoolgirls are the future of the African continent and the world so for them to be deprived of their future by grown men with guns is highly unacceptable. With the help of the international community, we hope to see them released immediately and united back with their families and communities” said Mr Essuman.

ENDS

© Scoop Media