The Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan says the rescue of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls is a huge and massive relief to Nigerians.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on Feb. 21, over 100 school girls from Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Busari Local Government Area of Yobe, were abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
Lawan, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, said the rescue was a relief for us in Yobe because we were distressed when the girls were abducted.
“And I heard over the news that the Federal Government has already sent a very powerful delegation to the state, to Dapchi in particular, to receive the girls that were brought back.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: How 101 Dapchi schoolgirls were freed ―FG
“That is a huge morale booster not only for those of us from Yobe but for the entire nation.
“As a government, you can see how effective we can be,” the lawmaker said.
In his reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the release of the girls, weeks after their abduction and barely a week after the visit of Mr President to Dapchi, glaringly showed that we have a working government at hand.
“We have a government that can rescue the nation from whatever embarrassment any group or enemies of progress want to inflict on it.
“There is nothing conspiratorial about the whole development be it abduction or release as politically being insinuated.
“To us in APC and in fact, to Nigerians, the release of the girls is a welcome development and clear indication that the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government is working with the required capacity of rising up to any challenges.
“Though not all the girls as at this hour have been released, but surely and certainly with the excellent way the government is handling the problem, all the remaining abducted school girls including those of Chibok will be rescued.
“The insinuation on conspiracy theory coming from opposing camps is not unexpected, especially in this part of the world where politics is played beyond the level of decency, objectivity and national interest,” Abdullahi said.
Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki has described the release of 101 of the 110 abducted Dapchi School Girls as the answered prayers of millions of Nigerians.
Saraki made this known in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian security forces and the government of Yobe, for the ongoing effort that led to the release of the girls.
The president of the Senate said the government should do all within its power to ensure the return of the remaining Dapchi and Chibok girls.
“The release of the abducted Dapchi school girls is a tremendous news for the country. Our prayers had been answered.
“I commend President Buhari, our security forces and the Yobe State Government for their effort in bringing back our girls.
“However, we cannot stop here. We must not rest until all the Dapchi girls, and the remaining Chibok girls are back home to their families.
“I hope that the girls that have been released will soon be reunited with their families and loved ones.
“It is also necessary that we ensure that they receive the necessary care and rehabilitation that they needed to continue to lead normal lives.
“I urge the affected families and the Yobe State Government to do all within their power to ensure that these girls continue their education as this will be the strongest signal to their abductors that though they may have kidnapped their bodies, they will never break their spirits and their minds,” Saraki said.
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