Onayeikan leads march for #ChibokGirls

From left, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Mosque, Muhammad Nuru Khalid and Mrs Oby Ezekwesli marching for Chibok girls, in Abuja, on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI

The Catholic archbishop of Abuja archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan on Tuesday led other clerics to a solidarity march for the abducted Chibok girls who have been in captivity for nearly three years.

Speaking during the march, Cardinal Onaiyekan called on the federal government to take the necessary steps to ensure the release of the remaining 195 Chibok schoolgirls still in the hands of Boko Haram.

He wondered why the other girls have not been rescued when Sambisa Forest where the terrorists have been using as hideout has been cleared.

“We are told that the Sambisa forest has been cleared totally. So the question we are asking today is where are our girls. Government should do more to release the girls and to also address the issue of kidnapping in our country,” he said.

Onayeikan further added that the families of the abducted girls has waited endlessly for their return and called on the government to communicate with the families on what have been done and what will be done to bring their daughters home.

“The families of the girls are still languishing and we think there is need to bring attention to that,” he said.

He explained that the march was part of the Global Week of Action organised by the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group to mark the third anniversary of the abduction and to press home its demand for the release of the girls.

The cardinal along with the Chief Imam of the Apo Legislative mosque, Sheik Nura Khalid, had joined other BBOG members to walk from the Unity fountain to the entrance of the Villa where they addressed newsmen.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune during the march, Khalid said “We can never allow the terrorists to have their way. If they get free with those girls, then they have relatively won the war. We want more actions from our government. The souls of all Nigerians are important,” he stated.

He added that terrorism was not part of Islam. He called for support from all especially the government to speak up against terrorism and the need for the rescue of the girls‎.

S-Davies Wande