Rescue of 200 girls pleasing –Shettima

From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, Maiduguri

Borno State Gover­nor, Kashim Shet­tima, has described the rescue of 200 girls and 93 women by the military from Boko Haram hideout as a heart warming development.

Shettima, in his first reac­tion yesterday, in a statement by his spokesman, Isa Umar Gusau, said the military opera­tion was gratifying whether or not those rescued were Chibok schoolgirls abducted over a year ago.

“The lives, safety and well-being of all citizens of Borno are of equal importance to me and as such, we celebrate the news about the rescue with so much excitement in a man­ner he would celebrate when the military succeeds in free­ing the Chibok schoolgirls,” he said. The governor said he was full of excitement and gratitude to God over the de­velopment, adding that the military deserved commenda­tion by all. “I was so full of excitement, gratitude to God almighty and commendation to our gallant Armed Forces for this great humanitarian feat. For me, the lives, safety and welfare of all citizens of Borno State are of equal im­portance,” he stated.

Governor Shettima de­scribed the rescued women and girls as daughters, sisters and mothers, whose lives were important, not just to their loved ones, but also to him as Borno governor, with a man­date to cater for the welfare and all citizens.

He said the Chibok girls’ abduction attracted national and international outrage, “because of the peculiar man­ner in which they were kid­napped,” adding that the in­cident has redefined the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

“The Chibok schoolgirls are very dear to my heart be­cause they were kidnapped, while they were in school. Their kidnap is very symbolic because their kidnappers are opposed to western education especially female education.

Follow us on Twitter: @NewsFetchers
Like our Facebook page: NewsFetchers