Updated Position on the Negotiated Release of 21 #ChibokGirls

13th October 2016
We are extremely delighted and welcome the news of the release of 21 of our 218 #ChibokGirls who have been in Boko Haram captivity for 913 days. Our hope is renewed that our Government will fulfil the pledge it made to rescue all our #ChibokGirls as well as every other abducted citizen of our country. Now, we can continue to make our demand for the rescue of the remaining 197 #ChibokGirls with greater expectation of their quick return.
Kudos to our Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, our soldiers in the frontline of battle who daily sacrifice, the heads of the military and security establishment for today’s remarkable development. We also thank the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Swiss government and all negotiators involved in securing the release.
We wish to again recommend the use of the instrument of Verification, Authentication and Rehabilitation System (VARS) which our movement developed and had twice at our meeting with our President offered for Federal Government use. VARS is a process that can help achieve a most effective and credible identification, rehabilitation (physical and psychosocial), resettlement and reintegration of our released girls in a systematic and structured manner.
Our movement is very supportive of an immediate commencement of the program for the physical, mental, emotional and social recovery process of our released 21 girls and stand ready to support the Federal and Borno State Government in every relevant respect.
Following this development, we trust that our government will continue to work to keep the safety, security, and well-being of the other girls a high priority. We further urge the international community to continue to support our government’s effort to rescue all other abducted Nigerians, so that parents, the Chibok community, the nation, and the world can finally put an end to this nightmare once and for all.
Signed:
For and on behalf of #BringBackOurGirls
AISHA YESUFU
OBY EZEKWESILI