The Bring Back Our Girls group has reiterate its demand for the release of the remaining 113 Chibok schoolgirls held by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East; and the six boys abducted from Lagos State Model College, Igbonla-Epe.

The group also advised the Federal Government to work with Local and State Governments, equip the Police and Armed Forces, and to see to their welfare.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos, signed for and on behalf of #BringBackOurGirls Lagos Family by Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Aisha Oyebode, Ayo Obe, Olalere Babasola, F.T. Adebayo, Habiba Balogun, Ngozi Iwere, ’Yemi Adamolekun, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti and Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome.

The group noted: “On Saturday, June 24, 2017, it will be 1,167 days in captivity for the 113 Chibok schoolgirls who have not escaped, been rescued, or released. For many, the negotiated release of 82 girls in May 2017, after more than three years since they were abducted, means that the struggle is over and that the #BBOG advocacy was a success. We appreciate the great efforts the federal, state and local governments are making in the areas affected by conflict. We also salute and appreciate the gains and sacrifices of our members of the police force, civilian joint task forces, local communities, and armed forces. Nevertheless, the families and communities of the remaining 113 Chibok girls, as well as the families of the uncounted missing men, women and children, anxiously await their return.

“On Saturday, June 24, 2017, it will be 30 days in captivity for the six Lagos schoolboys abducted from Lagos State Model College, Igbonla-Epe. We believe the authorities and schools should have learnt many lessons from the school kidnappings that have occurred over the past three years at Chibok, Ikorodu, Isheri, Ogun State, and Epe.

“Also, in this case, the kidnappers sent a threat in advance, but this crime was not prevented. Likewise, in the absence of greater detail, it seems that the response to this second kidnapping in Igbonla-Epe is not as vigorous as the first kidnapping incident when the release of the kidnapped Epe schoolchildren was secured in less than seven days. Once again, parents, siblings, other family members, and members of the school community have been left traumatised by this event and the lack of resolution. Six Lagos Schoolboys remain the unfeeling hands of kidnappers.”

The group is also of the view that “failure to prevent such crimes and delay in the rescue of victims could send a signal to the criminals that there is a major weakness in the capacity and capability of law enforcement competence of the government. As security is the primary responsibility of government, it must not present itself as such which is capable of emboldening other criminals. The government must show the capacity to protect its citizens, apprehend criminals, and bring them to justice in time.

“Our movement has a singularity of purpose, and a specific demand, for the government of Nigeria to ‘Bring back our girls, NOW and ALIVE’. The Chibok Girls, whose names and identities we know, symbolise all Nigerians who have been abducted by terrorists and we demand that the Federal and State Governments fulfil their constitutional responsibility of securing the life of every Nigerian. This, naturally, includes the Lagos 6.”

The group further called on the government to respond swiftly to, and communicate adequately about security incidents, identify citizens who have gone missing as a result of conflict, prioritise rescue and preservation of life in security operations, ensure safe schools for our next generation of leaders, protect girls and women from societal and sexual abuse, and adequately rehabilitate survivors by providing them with long term culturally appropriate psychosocial care.

The campaigners also demanded punishment for criminals including those corruptly diverting food and resources from internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camps.

“We are not asking government to do it alone. Some of our BBOG members who work in the humanitarian space alongside other Nigerians are intervening in the North-East and other parts of Nigeria to support IDP camps and terrorism-affected communities.

“BBOG is also aware of various advocacy actions against people trafficking for the purpose of street trading, fundraising for humanitarian support for victims of conflict around the country, counselling for trauma victims, amongst others.

“Painfully, #Day1167 for the Chibok girls and #Day 30 for the Lagos boys is on Saturday, June 24, 2017. It is well overdue to bring these horrific sagas to an end. What if it were YOUR CHILD? What would you do? We enjoin ALL NIGERIANS wherever you are to join our movement in whichever small way you can. Attend a sit-out in Abuja, Lagos, or Oshogbo. Form a group and visit your Local Government Chairperson. Write to your Representative or Senator. March to your Governor and State House of Assembly. Engage your local religious leader to mention this issue to your community during service. Engage local and international influencers to put pressure on our authorities. Put pressure on the federal and state Ministries of Education to improve their performance. Support and encourage our Police and our troops however you can, even if only with some words of, ‘Well done’.

“We request that the Federal Government, Lagos State government, the Lagos State Commissioner of Education, and the Minister of Education widely communicate their plans and responses to let citizens know what steps they are taking to secure our lives, rescue and rehabilitate the kidnapped, and provide conducive environments for learning in safe and hygienic conditions.”

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