Group appeals to Obama to reinvigorate US effort in Chibok girls’ rescue

Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, CANAN, has called on the United State, President Barack Obama to reinvigorate America’s effort and support in the rescue of over 200 Nigerian schoolgirls who were abducted exactly one year ago by Boko Haram terrorists.

Also the body enjoined President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President-elect Professor Yemi Osinbajo to keep to their promise by confronting the terrorists with the “collective will” of all Nigerians.

The body in a statement signed by Pastor Laolu Akande, on Wednesday said that as the world marks one year of abduction of Chibok school girls, CANAN wants the US government to renew and upwardly review its military and technical assistance to the Nigerian government’s effort and those of the neighboring countries in confronting the terrorists and that President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President-elect Professor Yemi Osinbajo should keep their promise as they were encouraged by General Buhari’s statement of his readiness to confront the terrorists with the “collective will” of all Nigerians.

Last year April 14, Boko Haram abducted the Nigerian schoolgirls while sitting for examinations in their school in Chibok, Borno State. Since then some of the girls managed to escape, but most of them are still being held captive.

CANAN said that the US government should reconsider its previous decision to disapprove Israel’s readiness to sell Cobra Military helicopters to Nigeria as required in the Boko Haram war. President Obama should not rule out any potential effort in destroying and degrading Boko Haram including military options side by side the regional force currently fighting the terrorists.

The statement further said the body was in agreement with the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who said that “we must never forget the kidnapped Chibok girls, and I will not stop calling for their immediate release and their safe return to their families.”

Ban Ki-moon also said that in the past year the terrorists “intensified its brutal attacks on boys and girls in Nigeria and neighbouring countries. Hundreds of thousands of children have been displaced from their homes, and deprived of their rights to live and grow up in safety, dignity and peace. Boko Haram’s killing, abduction and recruitment of children, including the use of girls as “suicide bombers”, is abhorrent.” CANAN is saying today that this has to stop!

CANAN also said that ‘Boko Haram is as brutal as ISIS and both groups are now clearly making connections, signaling to the global community that the time to strike Boko Haram hardest is now.’

The body believed that with the advent of a new government in Nigeria next month, there are high hopes that the insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria will now be dealt with.