Addressing the European Parliament on February 3, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari said his government will not rest until over 200 school girls kidnapped in April 2014 in Chibok town of Borno State are rescued alive and reunited with their families.
According to reports, some of the girls managed to escape but over 100 are still being held captive by Boko Haram. There are fears the group which had threatened to marry the girls off, may be using them as suicide bombers – as part of a new strategy of using females for their missions.
In his address to MEPs in Strasbourg, however, President Buhari recounted some gains made by the Nigerian military in their fight against the militant group.
“All areas which were formerly under the control of Boko Haram in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in north-eastern Nigeria, are again under our control. The displaced are gradually returning to their homes,” he said.
Buhari, who is the leader of Africa’s biggest economy, also called on the international community to provide more support to people in the Lake Chad region, who for the past six years have been terrorised by the Boko Haram sect.
He also called for closer collaboration between Europe and Nigeria to eradicate corruption and other criminal activities.
On February 4, Buhari wrapped up his European tour with a visit to London where he attended a high-level conference titled “Supporting Syria and The Region”.
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