Why Buhari's words to the released schoolgirls matter

They had been abducted from their school dormitory in April, 2014, by gun-wielding insurgents.

“Government and all Nigerians must encourage you to achieve your goals in life", the President added.

The girls were paying the President a visit at the Aso Villa, Wednesday. They still look ill-fed and scrawny, as you’d expect from persons who went an entire month without a meal, at some point.

But getting them back into school and encouraging them to make sure their life goals aren’t truncated, should be supported by everyone.

The girls have been away for far too long; cut off from civilization for more than 900 days. They’ve been forced to have sex with persons they’ll normally not have sex with.

They’ve evaded bombs and landmines. They’ve had to go through horrible living conditions through no fault of theirs. They've been abused and dehumanised. Their families and the rest of the world have cried their eyes out. They’ll probably be scarred from this experience for the rest of their lives.

But alas, we now have them! Thankfully so.

The Chibok girls are now the responsibility of the rest of us--to love and to treasure back into good health. All kinds of psychosocial, health and financial support will be required from us. We must step forward.

The Nigerian State has to lead the way, of course. This shouldn’t be a one-off from Abuja—something for the cameras only.

We must never forget the clamour for the girls’ rescue from the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) advocacy group, even in the face of conventional wisdom.

Renown lawyer, Femi Falana has said: “We must commend the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group that have, for the past three years, staged daily protests over the abducted girls.

“This is the greatest sacrifice that Nigerians have made in terms of reminding the government, on a daily basis, that these girls have to be brought back”.

Efforts will have to be stepped up in rescuing the rest of the girls still in Boko Haram custody. It’s soothing that the President agrees with this school of thought.

“We shall redouble our efforts to bring the rest back home," Buhari assured.

And so shall it be.