AFRICA/NIGERIA - President Buhari: "I want to get to the bottom of the causes of the kidnapping of the Chibok girls"

Friday, 15 January 2016 armed groups  

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered another investigation into the abduction of 219 girls and in particular intends to clarify the responsibility of the security forces in their failure to release them.
The 219 girls were abducted on the night of April 14, 2014 from their dormitory by the jihadist group, Boko Haram.
Their kidnapping caused global outrage and promises by several Western nations to help in the rescue of the girls, which were never fulfilled. The Nigerian army has managed to free hundreds of other people abducted by Boko Haram but not the Chibok girls.
In the statement which announces the investigation ordered by the President, it is stated that this "will seek to, among other things, unravel the remote and immediate circumstances leading to the kidnap of the girls by Boko Haram terrorists as well as the other events, actions and inactions that followed the incident".
During the meeting with representatives of the families of the kidnapped girls, President Buhari said: "I assure you that I go to bed and wake up everyday with the Chibok girls on my mind. The unfortunate incident happened before this government came into being", but said that "securing the Chibok girls is my responsibility". Buhari has initiated an investigation regarding the corruption in the military, often without adequate means to face Boko Haram, because the allocated funds to buy arms were pocketed by corrupt officials. "This is the leadership that I inherited", said Buhari, who also highlighted the difficulties related to the decline in oil prices (from $ 140 a barrel a year ago to 30 today). "God knows I have done my best and I will continue to do my best", concluded the President. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/01/2016)


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