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Press Release: THE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO RESCUE THE CHIBOK GIRLS

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Saturday, October 5, 2019 marked 2,000 Days since 276 schoolgirls were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram

57 girls escaped in the first 24 hours.

In the last 5 years, 107 of the 219 girls held captive either escaped; were released after negotiations; or were found after the army liberated the areas where they were being held.

§ To date, 112 Chibok Girls remain captives of the terrorists.

The Bring Back Our Girls movement decided to meet daily at the Unity Fountain in Abuja after the first protest on April 30th because we believed we needed to put consistent pressure on the President Goodluck Jonathan government to find and rescue the Chibok Girls. Our initial engagements and responses received had clearly indicated that the abduction was not taken seriously.

Our perception was confirmed in the investigative piece published by the Wall Street Journal in December 2017. Some excerpts from the article:

“To the surprise of Obama’s Africa team, the abduction of an entire student body barely registered in the press at home or abroad. In Nigeria, the reaction was muffled by military leaders who informed their president the kidnapping seemed to be a hoax.

‘We knew this was going to be big,’ said Grant T. Harris, Obama’s Africa director. “But it was initially met with a deafening silence.’”

“The first lady’s photo (May 7) would front nearly every Nigerian newspaper, blindsiding President Goodluck Jonathan, whose military still suspected the kidnapping had never happened. Facing an unprecedented form of public pressure from his most powerful ally, Jonathan had few options. He accepted the White House’s request to launch a rescue effort.”

“’We gave them a hammer, but they never picked it up,’ an American officer said. ‘There wasn’t enough political will.’”

“The #BringBackOurGirls campaign had made Nigeria a magnet for reward chasers and have-a-go heroes. The government fuelled the chaos by paying millions of dollars for information that led nowhere. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan’s spokesman at the time, acknowledged the search became a gold rush. ‘There were too many actors working at cross-purposes,’ he said.”

In his memoir, For the Record, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron wrote that at the time of the abduction, British troops traced the location of some of the girls and offered to help, but former President Goodluck Jonathan refused. Even though Mr Cameron’s book was published on September 19, 2019, this part of the book was highlighted as family, friends and concerned citizens painfully marked 2,000 Days of the abduction.

In his words, “As ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign spread across the world, we embedded a team of military and intelligence experts in Nigeria and sent spy planes and Tornadoes with thermal imaging to search for the missing girls. And, amazingly, from the skies above a forest three times the size of Wales, we managed to locate some of them. … But Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, seemed to be asleep at the wheel. When he eventually made a statement, it was to accuse the campaigners of politicizing the tragedy. And absolutely crucially, when we offered to help rescue the girls we had located, he refused.”

However, in a swift response, former President Jonathan issued a statement asserting that Mr Cameron’s claims are inaccurate. He says, “In his book, Mr. Cameron failed to mention that I wrote him requesting his help on Chibok. Why did he suppress that information? I remind him that copies of that letter exist at the State Houses in Nigeria and London. He never called me on the phone to offer any help. On the contrary, I am the one that reached out to him.”

He also stated, “I also authorized the secret deployment of troops from the United Kingdom, the United States and Israel as a result of the Chibok incident, so how Mr. Cameron could say this with a straight face beats me.”

A Nigeria Senator at the time of the abduction has also supported Mr Cameron, stating that his interaction with President Jonathan in the company of nine other Senators and senior government officials showed clearly that the abduction was not being taken seriously. In his words, “…We met him at the First Lady’s meeting room. His service chiefs, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Inspector General of Police (IGP), Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) were also there. Pius Anyim, the then SGF. President Jonathan made us believe all through the meeting that the Chibok story was not real. It was staged. That it was politics. He tried very hard to convince us. This was his mindset and he made no apologies about it.”

Our perceptions, the Wall Street Journal article, a serving Senator’s recollections, that have not been debunked, clearly support Mr Cameron’s assertions.

In describing the fate of the Chibok Girls, Mr Cameron said, “Some of the girls have managed to escape over the following four years, and others have been released, but over a hundred are still missing. Once again. the combination of Islamist extremism and bad governance proved fatal.”

The deadly combination of bad governance and terrorism has been at the heart of our cry to Bring Back Our Girls for over five years because if the government’s disposition to security and human dignity is not reprogrammed, our girls will not return and more of our children will continue to be abducted.

As a citizens-led movement, we are committed to reminding the government of the day of its constitutional responsibility to make the security and welfare of Nigerian citizens its priority. Today, our core demand remains the same, relevant today as it has been on each of the over 2,000 days we have turned up in Abuja, Lagos, London, New York, Washington, DC and all around the world, pressuring two consecutive Presidents of Nigeria to rescue the remaining 112 Chibok Girls, Leah Sharibu and thousands of others that remain in captivity.

For as long as they remain in captivity, we shall continue to carry them in our hearts and make our voices resound and reecho our cries of five years: “Mr President, #BringBackOurGirls now and alive!”

What are we demanding?
#BringBackOurGirls Now & Alive

What are we asking?
The truth, nothing but the truth!

What do we want?
Our girls back now and alive!
When shall we stop?
Not until our girls are back and alive! Not without our daughters!

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Signed:

For and on behalf of #BringBackOurGirls Abuja Family
Florence Ozor
Gapani Yanga
Nifemi Onifade

For and on behalf of #BringBackOurGirls Lagos Family
Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
Aisha Oyebode
Ayo Obe
Babasola Olalere
F.T. Adebayo
Habiba Balogun
Monday Ojon
Ngozi Iwere
‘Yemi Adamolekun
Yemisi Ransome-Kuti

For and on behalf of #BringBackOurGirls New York Family
Debbie Almontaser
Dionne Boissiere
Donald Robotham
Iman Drammeh-Nur
Laurie Combo (New York City Council)
Marcia Fingal
Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome
Naomi Less
Pat Sellers
R. Evon Benson-Idahosa
Rodneyse Bichotte (New York State Assembly)
Ruth Messinger
Shahara Jackson
Sherrie Russell-Brown
Tania Darbouze
Tehilah Eisenstadt

For and on behalf of #BringBackOurGirls Washington DC Family
Omolola Adele-Oso

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Inside Nigeria

News Headlines from Nigeria’s Major Newspapers

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NATION
*Nigerians to pay more for chicken, fish
*NIMASA generates over N108b revenue
*Satellite to play key role in 5G rollout
*‘Why most SMEs fail in three years’
*NETCO empowers youths
*NALDA farm estate to empower 400 in Abia
*AIB partners NCAT on manpower development
*Notore grows turnover by 43% to N27b
*PZ Cussons pays N992.6m dividend to shareholders
*‘Digital assets can stimulate capital formation’
*Airtel Africa joins FTSE 100
*Sterling Bank holds awards for young tech founders
*Wema Bank gets two new directors
*Threats to Nigeria’s march to digital economy
*Evolving railway connection and emerging opportunities
*Boosting downstream with low-interest loans
*Oyebanji, Kolawole: Who succeeds Fayemi?
*February… A ruling party’s month of decisions
*Typically NLNG
*Ritualists on the prowl
*Fuel subsidy sandstorm
*Ritualists on the prowl
*Fuel subsidy sandstorm
*Nigeria and the hunger hotspots
*Subsidy: triumph of reason
*Abubakar’s stained hands
*Tackling Nigeria’s cumulative leadership failure
*Subsidy suspension; stale logic

LEADERSHIP
*AFCON: Egypt Edge Out Morocco, Face Cameroon In Semi-final
*Terrorists Flee, Abandon Trucks As Troops Clear Enclaves
*11 Killed, Others Injured In Southern Kaduna Attack
*Alleged Defamation: JAMB Spokesman Sues Human Rights Radio, Demands N6bn
*Army Keeps Mum Over Attack On Soldiers In Rivers
*APC Has A Flawed Reward System – Princewill
*Manchester United Ban Greenwood Indefinitely Over Alleged Assault
*NDLEA Arrests 3 Trans-border Traffickers With 48,000 Tramadol Tabs
*Aborted Zamfara Trip: Presidency Explains Reasons, Blasts PDP
*Employment: KWASU VC Urges Youths To Embrace ICT
*We Want You To Defect To APC, Lawan Tells Akwa Ibom Gov

DAILY TRUST
*I Was Denied My First Job Because Of Hijab – FOMWAN President
*Edo Journalists To Benefit From Govt’s Health Insurance Scheme
*Ekiti Gov’ship: Anger Over Outcomes Of APC, PDP Primaries
*2023 Presidency: Age Not On Atiku’s Side – Bala Mohammed
*I Joined PDP Because Of Political Mess In Kano – Suspended Anti-Graft Boss
*2023: Tricky Storms Before Atiku
*Transforming Skills Development In Nigeria
*Professor Zulum And His ‘Empty Seat Of Power’
*Health Insurance: HMO Must Pay Hospitals
*Witnessing The Remorse Of A Secessionist
*Gender Inclusion For Uneducated Nigerian Woman Voter?
*281 Nigerians Crypto Account Restricted On Security Concern
*5G Rollout: NCAA Allays Fears On Flight Operations
*How Navy Recovered N67bn Worth Of Crude, AGO In 2021
*Emefiele Flag Off 100 For 100 Policy On Production And Productivity Today
*Fidelity Bank Rewards Customers In GAIM 5 Promo
*NIMASA Paid N37.7bn To Federation Account In 2021 – Jamoh
*Entrepreneurship Success: Contract Negotiations (II)
*‘Nigeria Will Never Go Into Recession If Real Estate Sector Is Stabilised’
*Appeal Court Dismisses Case Against Owners Of Abuja Estate
*Land Prices In Lekki, Ikoyi, Others Grow By 63% In 2 Years – Report
*Royal Choice Inn Builds N1b Hotel For Visitors, Sabbatical Lecturers In UniJos
*3-Year-Old Girl Abducted From Home In Kwara
*Report Sexual Harassment By Staff, Students, Unijos VC Urges
*Amosun Donates Food Items To Prisons, Orphanages

VANGUARD
*The merits in power shift to Southern Nigeria
*The plight of Nigerian workers [opinion]
*Presidential election campaign researchers look at 2015 and 2019
*Obaseki’s former Chief of Staff declares for House of Representatives
*If Nigeria were a democracy
*Lawmakers as rigging addicts
*Group educates Nigeria startup ecosystem on Nigeria startup bill
*We ‘re committed to making Niger Delta region better-Tunji-Ojo
*Law barring littering of polythene underway in Nasarawa — Commissioner
*FG saves N124bn yearly from IPPIS, digitalisation — HoS
*2023: Utomi, Na’Abba, Agbakoba’s mega party issues APC, PDP quit notice
*Why LASTMA personnel are hated by many
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*Senate Constitution Review Committee bows to Buhari, rejects State Police
*Police arrest 5 suspects over killings, robbery in Osun
*2023: APC not sellable —Ondo Senator
*2023: Shun purported report on plans to replace Sanwo-Olu — Governance Council
*Yobe govt debunks report of crisis, churches burning
*PDP’s attack on Buhari over cancellation of Zamfara visit, shameful, disgraceful — Presidency
*Gunmen burn 10 sleeping locals in Southern Kaduna

PUNCH
*Sorrowful letter to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (1)
*Senate invites 62 revenue-generating agencies over low remittances
*Refineries rehabilitation gulped N100bn in 2021, says NNPC
*Ekiti APC primary didn’t hold, we’ll challenge outcome – Bamidele
*Transport fares jump by 283% amid rising fuel subsidy – NBS report
*Presidency: APC in dilemma over zoning, may throw race open
*FG must justify fresh N3tn vote, others for fuel subsidy – Senate
*Motorist seeks Lagos task force officers’ prosecution for perjury
*NDLEA seizes 48,000 tramadol tabs, 22 UK, France, Portugal passports
*Ogun police arrest three for vandalising telecoms mast

THISDAY
*Ugwuanyi Reiterates Continuous Support for Security Agencies
*NDLEA Arrests Nigeria-Cameroon Trans-border Drug Traffickers
*2023: PDP Positioned to Win Ogun, Says Party Chieftain
*SMEDAN Boss Laments Poor Reading Culture among Students
*Ex-Bayelsa Commissioner Urges Kinsmen to Shun Criminality
*Osinbajo: Masses, Not Legal Profession Own Nigeria’s Justice System
*2023: Obaseki’s Ex-Chief of Staff, Akerele, to Contest for House’s Seat
*Kogi Gov Restates Commitment to Education
*Residents Urge IG to Fish Out Killers of Two Teenagers in…
*Electoral Bill Pegs Presidential Campaign Spending at N5bn
*Report: $9.2trn Annual Investment Needed to Achieve Net-zero By 2050
*Come and Work with Us, Lawan Begs Emmanuel to Join APC
*Presidency to PDP: Don’t Trivialise Buhari’s Aborted Visit to Zamfara
*Merchants of Hate Selling Purported Plan to Replace Sanwo-Olu, Declares GAC
*PANDEMIC ENVIRONMENT AND SMALL BUSINESSES
*NIGERIA AND THE SUBSIDY SANDSTORM
*APC’s PresidentialTicket and the Early Risers
*Rice Leads the Charge in Agric Revolution
*Economics of Recovery and Recovery of Economics: A Peep into Nigeria
*As BUA Boosts Nigeria’s Cement Production Capacity
*Enterprise Asset Leasing to Boost Fleet Operations for Corporates, SMEs’ Funding
*Why is Buhari Unusually Quiet on Promise to Inaugurate NDDC…
*WACOT Rice to Complete Expansion of 120,000-ton Mill in 15 Months
*Lafarge Wins 2021 IoD’s Corporate Governance Award
*Edo to Set Up Investment Desks in Lagos, Abuja, Nigerian Embassies
*Lekki Gardens Receives SON’s Quality Management Certification
*Foundation Expands Blockchain Technology Operations to Ghana
*Cyber Future Academy Partners NAS on ICT Week
*Dana Air Reintroduces Early Flights from Abuja Feb 1 Chinedu Eze
*Ibom Air Ranked Best Airline in Nigeria by Travellers Awards
*Airtel Africa Joins FTSE100 January 31
*Interswitch Supports NITDA’s National Privacy Week, Promotes Data Protection
*‘Accident Investigation Institute to Begins Operation in Q3 2022’
*Private Sector Stakeholders to Launch N62.1bn HIV Trust Fund
*ANLCA Urges FG to Set-aside 3% Compensation for Licensed Agents
*Majiyagbe: Nigerian Custodial Services in Conformity With Global Best Practice
*NACCIMA Urges CBN to Postpone Implementation of e-Invoicing
*MTN Delights Investors With Historic N400bn Profit
*Insecurity, Forex Illiquidity Poses Threat to Nigeria’s Short-Term Growth IoD Warns
*‘Insurance Will Grow When Government Shows Responsibility to Sector’
*Banks, Others Borrowing from CBN Drops by 26.5% in January on…
*Sustained growth in revenue
*FG: No Jetty Should Operate Without Authorisation
*NIMASA Introduces Zero Import Duty on Brand New Vessels, Contributes N37bn…
*10 Customers Win N10m In Fidelity Bank’s GAIM 5 Promo
*Stephen Akintayo Foundation organises Upgrade Conference
*FG to Save N120bn from Human Resources Data on IPPIS
*Notore Sustains Growth Trajectory, Grow Revenue by 43% to N27bn
*TROM Foundation Holds Inaugural Annual Lecture, launches Maiden Science Teachers Award
*People Can Make Honest Money as Professional MCs, Says Talkademy CEO

THE SUN
*Niger: Terrorists on rampage, kill 7 top JTF commanders, others
*Ikpeazu commended on urban renewal programme
*Mbadiwe hails Buhari over suspension of fuel subsidy removal
*… President greets Onwenu at 70
*2023: Igbo group appeals to non-S’East indigenes to shelve ambition
*Ekiti guber: APC primary was hijacked, compromised -Bamidele
*2023: Desist from political prophecy, Kaigama tells religious leaders
*Plateau: PDP’ll produce better govt in 2023 –Gyang
*APC convention: Feb. 26 date threatened as CECPC mulls March option
*N450m rice factory commences operation in Imo

  • General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu,
    *Bayelsa to commission over 20 projects on Diri’s 2nd anniversary
    *NAS warns against rising number of out-of-school children
    *EBSU students reject N250,000 levy
    *Uzodimma promises traders of reconstructed Owerri market compensation
    *… Commiserates with Nnadi, Editor Sunday Sun, on wife’s death
    *2023: Disquiet in Akwa Ibom as Udom presents Umo Eno as ‘God anointed’ candidate
    *Nat Convention must arrest drift destroying APC — Ex DG Govs Forum
    *Alleged contempt: Finance minister, others face committal trial today

GUARDIAN
*Movement demands information on N3tr fuel subsidy
*In fresh attacks, bandits kill dozens in Kaduna, Niger
*SSANU gives FG February deadline to settle minimum wage, IPPIS
*Lawan woos Emmanuel as influential council backs Sanwo-Olu on re-election
*Concerns as cybercriminals unleash SMS-based Android malware on Nigerians
*Lagos Police Command begins screening exercise for applicants
*Ohanaeze warns of danger if North succeeds Buhari in 2023
*Obaseki extends street light-up project to Edo north
*Jonathan, Jack-Rich urge oil firms to impact host Niger Delta communities
*‘Soludo’s template will move Nigeria from crude politics’
*Police arrest three suspects for robbery in Yobe
*Osun government intervenes on Ilesa cult clash, promises return to normalcy
*Group condemns attack on ThisDay office in Abuja, seeks protection for media outfits
*Chief of Naval Staff tasks youths on career in armed forces
*Lawmaker seeks justice for murdered OAU PG student
*Abia government seals bank premises, prosecutes levy, tax defaulters
*Buhari commiserates with Innoson boss over mother’s death
*Bamidele to challenge Ekiti APC guber primary outcome in court
*Three rapists get life sentence in Jigawa

NIGERIAN TELEGRAPH
*Ekiti primaries and defeat of the big guns
*2023: South-East in strong push for power
*As the Senate debates Abuja Monthly Rent Payment Bill
*Ngige and the South East quest to lead Nigeria
*JUST IN: Emmanuel settles on Pastor Umo Enoh for 2023
*Federer, Djokovic praise ‘great champion’ Nadal
*Abuja Rice Pyramid smacks of deception –Ndeze
*Abia is leveraging on SME for development, says Oseiza
*Kano battling exports’ rejection, says Nasiru, Deputy Gov
*2023: South-East in strong push for power
*Bamidele vows to challenge Ekiti APC Gov Primary

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Africa

Akwa Ibom Corps Member Slaughters Boyfriend

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Princess Odume

A corps member identified as Princess Odume, was on Monday arrested by the Akwa Ibom police command for the murder of a yet-to-be-identified man.

The young woman, who is said to be a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, was stripped naked by neighbours of the victim who caught her trying to skip the fence with a machete.

The Akwa Ibom Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Ogbeche-Macdon confirmed the victim was the alleged murderer’s lover.
He also said, “The police are investigating. The police have her in custody, she committed the act, but as I speak, an investigation is ongoing as to how and why she did it.”

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Africa

COVID-19 Claims the Life of a House on the Rock Pastor

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Pastor Adeyinka Akinbami

A House On The Rock pastor, Adeyinka Akinbami(61), lost his life to COVID-19 on Friday, the 8th of January, 2021.

The Senior Pastor, of the church, Paul Adefarasin, urged Nigerians to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.

“Yesterday (Friday), I received the rude and shocking news of someone deeply dear to me and all of the HOTR family. The passing of Pastor Yinka Akinbami has become most painful because if there truly were good men, he was certainly one. To my brother, sleep well till we meet to part no more.

“Family, kindly allow me to solicit your intercession for his dear wife of over 30 years; Pastor Tolu, his children, his children-in-law, and grandchildren. We can only at best imagine how much pain they are feeling. We share the pain of his loss but they will feel it a lot more.

“It’s important to remind the community about the deadly nature of the COVID-19 and its mutant virus strains. Please do your part by following all the recommended precautions. That way, you are able to protect yourself and others who become proximal to you. God bless and keep us all”, Adefarasin Tweeted.

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Bizare

Pius and Dr, Ifenyiwa Angbo: The sad story of everyday Nigerian hardworking women.

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Pius Angbo

The Channels news staffer Pius Angbo-seen in this picture battered his wife, who went public with the beating. In her own words, the woman had these to say:-
”Hello people, my name is Ifeyinwa. I am a doctor. I have been married to Pius Angbo of Channels TV for six years, and for six years, I have not known peace in this marriage. It’s been from one woman to another.
I just had baby. It was a Caesarian section just about 4 weeks ago. Just because I told him to spend wisely and not on women so recklessly considering we have four children, that is why I got this beating. He tried to strangle me and all that, sat on my incision, the children were crying.
When I was pregnant with this child, when the pregnancy was three months, it was the same thing. He would sit on my stomach. hit me, try to strangle me and all that”

As the outcry over the beating gathered momentum, a sitting State Governor called for a truce between husband and wife. Now, you can see husband and wife hugging it out.
Pius Angbo should be arrested and face the full wrath of the law for causing his wife such bodily harm. As shown in those pictures, the beating went too far, and because Ifeaniyiwa had a cesarian operation four weeks ago, the man almost killed her. The matter should not be swept under the carpet.
The next time around, the woman may not be alive to tell her story. Her case represents a tiny fraction of what everyday Nigerian woman is facing. I spoke with the Lagos State Police PRO and waits to talk with the Commissioner of Police very shortly, concerning this matter. More updates will be made public.

AGU is Nigerian-American International award wining musician, song writer and Producer/ publisher.

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