Former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has called on the Nigerian government and the global community not to relent in their rescue efforts to bring back the more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram.
The pupils were taken away from their hostel in Chibok, Maiduguri in Borno State, on April 14 last year while preparing for the West African Examination Council papers.
Brown said, “It is a massive challenge for the Nigeria’s newly elected President Muhammadu Buhari, who says he will ‘spare no effort’ to wipe out Boko Haram. Nigeria and its neighbours have so far succeeded in driving the group from many of the positions they controlled earlier this year, reversing the militants’ gains that forced the country to delay its presidential election.
“The world has not forgotten the girls of Chibok. A global campaign, Bring Back Our Girls, has been supported by millions. And in the past week, a seven-day remembrance of the girls has included vigils, demonstrations, letter-writing, and a Global Schoolgirl March.
“The girls of Chibok should never be abandoned, neglected or forgotten in their greatest hour of need. We must not, cannot and will not quit on them.”
Brown, who is also the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, on Tuesday, stated in a statement posted on his website, www.gordonandsarahbrown.com, that the world needed to protect schoolchildren and ensure the safe return of the Chibok girls.
He added, “The campaign for the girls – kidnapped simply because they wanted to go to school – is the most iconic fight of a freedom struggle; the fight that will be won some day. No injustice can last forever. But for the sake of these girls, it must be won soon.
“It is horrific that the girls have spent an entire year captive away from their families, just because they wanted an education and to learn.
“This has been a devastating year for schoolchildren. Not since World War II have so many girls and boys become refugees across so many borders. Never outside the context of world wars have schools in so many countries been subject to so many terror attacks – 10,000 in only five years.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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