CIVIL Society Organisations (CSOs) in Kogi on Wednesday commended the Federal Government for its efforts in ensuring the release of 82 Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.
The CSOs, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja expressed the view that whatever sacrifice that was made that had led to the release of the girls was worthwhile.
Mr Titus Alonge, the Coordinator of Teens Education Development Information Initiative (TEDIIN), said “swapping or no swapping, it is a welcome development and we are happy that so far we have 103 of them released.
“As far as I am concerned, if I am one of the parents whose daughter was abducted for over three years, I will not mind what extent the government goes to bring back my child even if it means releasing Boko Haram commanders.’’
Alonge urged the Federal Government to design a sustainable policy on girl-child education.
He also urged the Federal Government to establish three or four tuition-free special girls’ schools in the North East zone with adequate security and funding as part of efforts to reconstruct the area.
“Going by what is happening in the country now, girl-child education deserves special priority, special attention and special security. Girls need better protection than is currently being given. Most of the schools around are not protected.
“The best re-construction you can give the people of the North East zone is education of their children because what has been lost in that zone cannot be recovered in 50 years,” he said.
Mr Idris Miliki, the Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) commended the effort of the Federal Government for securing the release of the girls.
According to him, swapping is an internationally recognised strategy.
Miliki said that swapping of criminals to save lives and situations was a strategy known and practised internationally, adding “I disagree with those politicising the strategic move of the government to get the girls back.”
Mr Victor Adejoh, the Chairman, Kogi Non-Governmental Organisations Network (KONGONET) commended the Federal Government for making good its effort to ensure the release and safety of the girls.
“It has gotten to the point that beyond the military onslaught on the insurgents, there is the need to ensure the safety of the girls. In my view, government has matched action with words, and our prayer is for the other girls to be released,” he said.
Adejoh urged government to critically address the post traumatic stress disorder that the girls may suffer as well as their full integration back into the society.
He said that their respective families should be allowed to play active roles in their recovery process.
Mr Hamza Aliyu, the Executive Director, Initiative for Grassroots Advancement (INGRA) said “we are grateful that the government has taken it upon itself to go the extra mile to bring back the girls’’.
“Quite frankly, no matter what the government did to bring back these girls, we are happy with it because it was a national embarrassment the way the matter was handled by the previous administration.’’