Minister of State, Power, Mr. Mohammed Wakil, on Thursday, March 5, 2015 held a closed door meeting with some of the parents and relatives of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.
The meeting which reportedly took place in Maiduguri, the state capital, was said to be at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan, according to Punch.
The minister’s spokesperson , Olawale Rasheed,in a statement told the parents that the Federal government is making efforts to ensure the girls are brought back safe from the captivity of the terrorists.
The statement said, “Mr. President is pursuing multi-faceted strategies which address the pains, anger and frustrations of victims.
“Our President directed me to tell you that his government is committed to doing everything possible for the safe return of your daughters.
“I am here to convey the sympathy of Mr. President and the entire Federal cabinet to you the parents and families as well as all other victims.
“As you are all aware, our military is having the upper hand in this sacred war. We believe by the grace of God that your children will return safely,” the statement quoted the minister as saying.
“I assure you that not only will the rescue operations be successful, the other three goals of reclaiming occupied territories, resettlement of IDPs and rebuilding of communities, will be pursued to a logical conclusion. This is a personal pledge from Mr. President which the entire administration is committed to.”
In the statement, the representatives of the affected parents of the kidnapped girls, Mrs. Pindar Dauda, expressed gratitude to the president for his unending concern and sympathy.