Ban Ki-Moon demands release of Chibok girls

The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban
Ki-Moon, on Monday called for the unconditional
release of the abducted pupils of Government
Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
The over 200 girls were abducted by Boko
Haram insurgents on April 14, 2013. They were
seized from the hostel at night and had not been
set free since then notwithstanding the global
outrage the incident had provoked.
Ki-Moon spoke in Abuja while addressing State
House correspondents shortly after having a
closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu
Buhari at the Presidential Villa. The meeting with
Buhari was part of the activities lined up for the
UN chief’s two-day visit to the country.
Ki-Moon’s call was made same week the
kidnapped girls will be marking their 500 days in
captivity.
He said that he discussed with Buhari issues
leading to the violence being perpetrated by the
Boko Haram sect in the North-East zone of the
country and beyond.
He said, “I express my solidarity again with the
Nigerian people that the United Nations will work
together to address the encountering extremism
and terrorism.
“This week marks the 500 days of the kidnap of
the Chibok girls. I want to reiterate my support
for the Chibok girls and so many other innocent
abducted girls and boys whose names and fate
remain unknown.
“It is intolerable that their lives and schooling
have been disrupted in this way. The whole world
has been moved by their fate.
“I once again call with the strongest terms on
those responsible to unconditionally release
these girls and many other abducted children.
“Terrorism knows no boundary and no bounds.
Today, I laid the wreath in memory of Nigerians
and other victims.”
The UN scribe noted the regional engagement
efforts being made by Buhari to tackle
insurgency and expressed the hope that the
rapid operational direction of the Multinational
Joint Task Force would go a long way in tackling
the insurgents.
He recalled that Buhari had in his inaugural
speech recognised that human rights are
important parts of the counter-insurgency
response, adding that operations should be
conducted with the full respect for rights,
humanitarian and refugee law.
He however added that military operations alone
would not be sufficient.
Ki-Moon added that he also discussed with
Buhari efforts at addressing the causes of
insurgency by tackling social economic
grievances in the North-East particularly through
expansion of educational and employment
opportunities for young people.
He said there was an agreement by UN member-
states on the Sustainable Development Agenda
and on the Adis Ababa Action Agenda that would
provide further financing to help Nigeria in its
agenda for change.
The UN scribe said, “The humanitarian situation
in the North is particularly worrisome, we are
working with partners on ground to scale up
humanitarian operations.
“I congratulate President Buhari on the efforts to
protect and uphold the rights of displaced
persons.
“I pledge the full support of the United Nations
to advance the shared and universal cause of
peace, development and human rights.”
He commended the President, who, he said, had
embarked on an agenda for change thus
prioritising security and anti-corruption war.
He promised UN support for the President’s
agenda, saying that by changing Nigeria Buhari
would be changing Africa.
He said, “President Buhari has embarked on an
agenda for change and I commend him highly for
prioritising insecurity, anti-corruption and
unemployment issues.
“My message is simple: United Nations supports
your efforts to advance hope, peace, sustainable
development and human rights in a
comprehensive way.
“I am convinced that when you change Nigeria,
you have changed Africa. Nigeria has been a
source of stability in West Africa and the wider
continent.
“You have been a key contributor to UN peace-
keeping operations, including its successful
mission in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“Nigeria is once again playing a crucial role in
the UN Security Council over which Ambassador
Joy Ogwu is now presiding.”
Buhari, on his part, said they discussed the
difficult time Nigeria had found itself.
He said the step was taken so that the UN could
assist the country.
He thanked Ki-Moon for extending invitation to
him to attend the UN General Assembly holding
in New York on September 27and 28.
Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and
Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, later on Monday
said the President had accepted Ki-Moon’s
invitation to the New York meeting.
The meeting is expected to formulate a fresh
plan of action against extremism.
Shehu said US President Barack Obama and
President Francois Hollande of France are also
expected to participate in the September 28
meeting. He said the UN scribe also invited
Buhari to a meeting of a select group of 25 world
leaders in New York on September 27 to
deliberate on a global climate change agreement