Borno State To Spend N150m In Support of The 53 Escapee Girls And Families

The Borno State government today announced that it will spend N150 million to fund a rehabilitation program for the 53 girls who escaped from Boko Haram captivity and to support parents in Chibok whose sources of livelihood have been impaired by the abductions. 

While receiving the presidential fact-finding committee in Maiduguri, Governor Shettima said a committee had been set up to work with all stakeholders and international organizations in support of the girls ‎and their parents. He said that doubts over that abduction pained him as much as the childish theory that his government might have staged the abduction in order to create the basis for stopping the extension of emergency rule in Borno State.

He called out former Minister of Aviation, Kema Chikwe for casting doubts on the authenticity of the abducted girls. He said the missing Malaysian plane was a good example of what is happening now, saying that with all the theories mounting up of the possibility that the passengers are dead, rescue efforts with massive investment is still going on in the search of the missing plane.

"Now, while that is going on, here is Nigeria, there was a report that over 200 human creatures, young Nigerian girls about completing their secondary school education, were attacked in their school at night and whisked away like slaves in ancient years. And some Nigerians, one of them a former Minister and one time member of the Federal Executive Council which is the highest decision making body of this country, worst of all, a woman and a mother, came out to cast doubt over the abduction of these girls. That woman completely disregarded the sensitivity of that issue, the pains of the agonizing parents and our pains as a Government, to whom, the parents of these girls, cry out in desperation, unimaginable confusion and anguish. Every other unreasonable Nigerian that came to adopt that view, only anchored the unfortunate position that was first expressed by Mrs Kema Chikwe.” he said 

Nonetheless, he expressed the commitment of the Borno State Government to sincere and active collaboration with the Federal Government and all other support groups in the collective fight against insurgency.

Calling for mutual trust, Governor Shettima drew attention to the misconception about those behind Boko Haram, saying it is one major hindrance to fighting the insurgency.

“So long we continue to look the wrong way on who is or are behind Boko Haram, there would be lack of focus on the part of most stakeholders and in which case, the victims would remain the accused,” he said.