Women are set to mount a massive protest for the release of the 234 girls abducted by Book Haram insurgents on April 15.
An all-red attired women will march on Abuja on Wednesday to press for the release of the girls kidnapped from their hostel at the Government Secondary School, Chibok.
Prof. Hauwa Abdu Biu hinted yesterday of the planned protest in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during an emergency meeting convened by the wife of the governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima.
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The meeting was on the way forward for the release of the school girls.
Prof. Biu, speaking last week on behalf of the Coalition of Borno Women, said women were ready to storm the Sambisa forest where the girls are believed to be held, to secure their freedom.
Yesterday, she told the meeting that the march, which will be tagged “Free our girls”, will involve women all over the country. She urged the wife of the governor to mobilise women to Abuja for the rally.
“The last time we were in black, but this time around, the colour for the Abuja rally is red. So we should all be prepared and mobilised for the rally,” she added.
ALSO READ: How Borno Governor Caused 300 School Girls To Be Kidnapped – WAEC
Follow ALL the stories on the Borno School Girls’ Abduction HERE.
Hajia Shettima urged wives of the service chiefs in the state and at the federal level to mount pressure on their husbands to intensify efforts towards rescuing the girls.
“I want to seek this opportunity to appeal to women of security chiefs at the national and state levels to mount pressure on your spouses to intensify effort to rescue our dear children. However, I feel it is necessary to call on all women in Borno to come up with their resolutions and harmonise them.
“Let us all put our differences aside, irrespective of our faith and ethnic group. Let us all join hands to rescue these girls. I know that we can do it. Almighty Allah is with us. He knows our intention,” she said, sobbing.
The governor’s wife recalled that she received a call from First Lady Patience Jonathan two days ago and “I believe she is also with us”.
Other women urged the Federal Government and the security agencies to intensify efforts towards rescuing the girls.
But Mrs Aisha Wakil, a member of the defunct Lemu panel on Boko Haram and other insurgents, called for restraint.
According to her, the use of force in rescuing the girls might not achieve the objective.
Wives of military chiefs in the state, officials of non- governmental organisations, representatives of Federation of Muslims Women Associations (FOMWAN), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other categories of women attended the meeting.
However, there were strong indications last night that troops night have gained access to a part of the Sambisa Forest.
Also, many volunteers have been feeding the military with information on how to locate the abducted girls, according to sources.
Some of the clues confirmed intelligence report that the girls were being spread across camps and cells by the insurgents to serve as shields.
A military source said: “There is progress in the search for the girls. The troops have been able to gain access to a part of Sambisa Forest even though it is a difficult terrain. This development will help in penetrating the forest not only for rescuing the girls but for the entire operation in Borno State.
“In the next few days, we will be able to confirm whether the girls were still holed up in the Forest or elsewhere. But so far, many informants have been assisting the military with clues.
“We are taking advantage of the clues to coordinate operations in the area and movement of troops.”
Defense Information Director Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade said “the search for the girls is still ongoing.”
