The Senate has expressed its appreciation to the Federal Government, the Red Cross and the Swiss Government on the release of 21 Chibok school girls on Tuesday, 18th October 2016. It would be recalled that 21 of the 276 Chibok girls abducted in 2014 by Boko Haram terrorists from the Government Secondary School Chibok in Borno state were released on Thursday, 13th October 2016 after negotiations with Boko Haram.
Speaking on their release, Senate leader, Sen. Ali Ndume (APC:Borno) expressed appreciation to the Senate and Nigerians who were involved in activities that led to the release of 21 Chibok girls. He shared that during his visit to the girls after their rescue, one of the girls appealed that the remaining girls be rescued and that the Airforce should exercise caution while carrying out its surveillance or raids to avoid the death of the remaining girls in captivity.
Also commenting on the release of the girls, Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP:Ekiti) called on Federal Government to inform Nigerians on the status of the war against insurgency while Sen. Binta Masi Garba (APC:Adamawa) said it was necessary for the girls to undergo psychological therapy to ease the trauma undergone while they were in captivity. Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu (APC:Oyo) also mentioned that synergy between the executive and committees in the Senate such as committee on women affairs was necessary to ensure proper rehabilitation of the girls.
