'We still don't know where the girls are' - Presidency

dimeji akinloye

July 12, 2016 4:30 AM

Garba Shehu said if the military had any clue as to the whereabouts of the abducted girls, the next action would have been to rescue them,

The Presidency has reacted to the claims by the

The group, championed by a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, had accused the government of being lackadaisical in the handling of the girls' release.

Over 200 girls were kidnapped from their school dormitory in Chibok town, Borno state by the Boko Haram sect in April 2014.

Speaking in defence of the government, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, said if the military had any clue as to the whereabouts of the abducted girls, they would have moved to rescue them.

“The President is conscious always about the fact that terrorism in Nigeria is part of a global phenomenon. Since coming to office, his response to it has been firm and well considered,” Shehu said in a statement.

“President Buhari will never make bogus promises or play to the gallery. It is misleading of anyone to preach that the Chibok girls are within an easy grasp. If the military under the President knew where they are held, they will bring the Chibok girls home today.

“The Presidency is open to renewed cooperation with the BBOG group, international bodies, religious groups, social workers, and all others who are assisting in the field to ensure that those who have so far been rescued from Boko Haram captivity are given the support they need to make a full recovery and be reintegrated fully into the society."

READ: "Many more girls may be pregnant" - reports

He called on the BBOG and other advocacy groups to also support the government in ensuring that the families of the kidnapped girls are assisted in anyway to deal with the situation.

dimeji akinloye