Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has appealed to the people of the state irrespective of religious inclinations to embark on three days fasting and prayers beginning from Monday 12th to Wednesday 14th May, 2014 for the safe release of the students abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Government Girls Secondary School Chibok on April 14.
According to Shettima, the fasting and payers from all and sundry became necessary as all efforts put in place to rescue the innocent girls by security agencies and government have so far proven abortive.
Shettima made the plea to the people of the state yesterday when members of Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), Borno state chapter led by Mr. Alabeh Grema Mdurbula led hundreds of his members on a peaceful protest to the governor at the government House, Maiduguri, the state capital.
Governor Shettima broke into tears as he addressed the group, saying that since the ugly incident, security agencies, state and federal government have been having sleepless nights on how to rescue the innocent school girls.
He however assured the people of KADA and Borno state that, very soon, the abducted school girls will be rescued and reunited with their beloved parents.
The leader of the protest, Mr. Mdurbula while presenting the protest letter to Governor Shettima for onward delivery to President Goodluck Jonathan, said the current issue on ground is the insurgency and its effect on the Borno and the country in general, which includes the abduction of their daughters, and concern for their rescue. He however said politicizing the issue will not mean well to the traumatized parents.
“We are here as members of KADA, a pan association of Kibaku ethnic nationality of Nigeria, Borno state Chapter, to express our profound gratitude to His Excellency and His wife for standing by us and showing concern in this matter. As a people, we also commiserate with your Excellency and the state over this act of terror.
“We therefore urge your Excellency, not to relent, but to remain resolute, determined and focused till the end of this trying moment. It is our collective desire to plead with you, our leader, the federal government, all our security agencies and the international community to intensify efforts to ensure the safe return of our innocent daughters so as to reduce the psychological trauma that is taking its toll on the parents, relations, friends of these girls and the community at large”.
“Unfortunately, some parents have even gone mad due to the trauma they sustained since the ugly incident almost three weeks ago, we shall as parents will continue to pray for God’s intervention for their safe return and for protection of all security agents to secure the peace of our dear nation”. Mdurbula stressed in his brief presentation.
Governor Shettima therefore assured KADA communities that he will deliver their protest letter to Mr, President for immediate action.
He was bragging b4 now,he thought d responsibility rested only on d president shoulder,instead of him to cooperate totally wit d presidency for d release of d innocent girls,