BEVERLY HILLS, CA, May 12, (THEWILL) – Following the Monday release of a new video by the Boko Haram showing dozens of girls believed to be the teenagers seized from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State about three weeks ago, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has ordered that the YouTube video be downloaded into mobile devices and sent to the Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area, parents, teachers, management of the school as well as schoolmates “so that the girls in the video can be identified to ascertain if they are part of the abducted students or otherwise.
The latest Boko Haram footage showed the seized girls reciting verses of the Holy Koran.
Their seizure by the terrorist group has been greeted with global outrage with several powerful governments assuring Nigeria of assistance in securing their release.
Shettima had earlier told the BBC that the seized girls have not been taken outside Nigeria as previously speculated by the international media covering the incident. He said there have been sightings of the girls and that the information has been passed on to the military for analysis and verification.
A statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Borno Governor, Isa Gusau on the directive said: “Governor Shettima has directed transfer of the video into mobile storage devices under the care of some officials, including the Chairman of Chibok local government area, who have been given an immediate task of showing the videos to parents, some of the freed students who know their abducted colleagues, teachers and management staff of Government Secondary School, Chibok.
So that the girls in the video can be identified to ascertain if they are part of the abducted students or otherwise.
He (the governor) is however optimistic about the video. Already, some concerned individuals in Maiduguri and Abuja are on the request of the Governor, making efforts to contact parents and relations of some of the abducted girls, who might be within reach to get feedback regarding the video.
Governor Shettima views the development as encouraging especially given the fact that some of the girls said they were not harmed. The Governor hopes that the girls did not speak under duress.
While awaiting the confirmation, Governor Shettima calls on citizens of Borno State, most of whom commenced another round of fasting today, to seek divine help, in response to appeal by the Governor, to intensify prayers for the safe release of the schoolgirls who are very precious not only to Borno but to the entire world.
“Shettima expresses appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan for their concerns and concerted efforts towards the release of the schoolgirls. The Governor also expresses appreciation to other Nigerians, world leaders and citizens around the world, whose pressures have been of tremendous help so far. The Governor particularly thanks all security agencies and volunteers engaged in search and rescue efforts with an appeal that the efforts are intensified till all the girls safely return home.”
The Governor once again commiserate with families of the abducted girls and assures that the Federal and Borno State Governments with the support of the international community are collaborating towards the freedom of the girls who are also his daughters.
“Shettima also extends appreciation to media establishments and journalists, local and international for their efforts so far. He enjoins citizens with relevant information to forward such directly to security agencies using phone lines that have long been made public or should send the information through community leaders in their respective local government areas or to send to him directly through his phone numbers that are of public knowledge in Borno State.”
About the Author
