This was as he disclosed that seven more girls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, escaped from captivity, bringing to 52 the number of those that had escaped since the abduction of 129 schoolgirls in the hostel on Tuesday last week.
With the latest development, 77 students are still in the custody of the abductors, with the governor saying that efforts are ongoing to secure their release.
Shettima, who disclosed this in his Easter message, released by his spokesman, Isa Umar Gusau, on Sunday, said though he had witnessed very dark days of insurgency, inherited by his administration, none of the attacks had been more troubling for him as the event of last week, where young girls from his state were abducted by insurgents and confined to a forest.
“I have seen very serious moments since I became the governor of Borno State in 2011, at a period of insurgent crisis. I have seen many innocent lives lost for no reason and I mourn every life lost with empathy and high sense of responsibility.
“But the last one week has been my worst as a governor and even the worst in my life. I am troubled as a father, a leader and a politician,” he said.
The governor called on parents and guardians alike to return any student that might have run home on the day of the attack, “so that we can take records to ascertain our missing students.”
He promised that with the determination and high commitment on the part of the federal, state and Chibok Local Government Area authorities, in partnership with men of the security agencies, the girls would be rescued soonest.
“First, as a father, anytime my young daughter comes around me in the last one week at the Government House, my heart beats very fast and becomes so heavy and I develop serious headache, because when I look into the eyes of my young daughter, I wonder how the parents of these our students feel when faced with the harsh reality that their loving daughters are either in the hands of abductors in fear and desperation for freedom or wandering somewhere, looking for safety.
“I took a sympathetic note of one particular parent, who reportedly said he preferred seeing his daughter’s corpse than the trauma of having her abducted. It is my very strong hope that all the students will come out of abduction safely. But as a father to a girl child, I know exactly what is currently troubling the minds of parents and relations who are yet to see their children. I am deeply pained and I very much share the agonies.
“More than everyone, as the leader, on whose area of governance this unfortunate incident took place, I am very anxious to have our daughters freed, because I know very well that the most important obligation of any government, be it at the federal, state or local government, is to ensure the safety and welfare of its good citizens. Every good citizen deserves safety as a fundamental human need and right, under a democratic system of governance.
“As a leader and politician, I am also troubled that I have not had the important opportunity to meet the anguished parents of these girls in Chibok, because I have, on a number of instances, been advised to hold back the trip in order not to interrupt security operations as well as search and rescue efforts which are our topmost priority, especially now.
“I am very much aware that Chibok is one of our communities with high population of our Christian parents, brothers and sisters. It is, therefore, easy for unpatriotic and divisive elements to make issues out of the delayed visit for whatever motive that will be unhelpful.
“As a leader, I have always believed and displayed fairness to all citizens, regardless of ethno-religious backgrounds. I hold that the Borno State government has a responsibility towards every citizen of the state, young or old, irrespective of religion, ethnic group or place of origin.
“I very much share the grief of parents and the entire people of Chibok. We must, at this time, strengthen the Borno blood that exists among us to work towards the freedom of our daughters. The insurgents are threatening and targeting us, irrespective of our religions. I am also very much aware that the girls abducted consist of not just those with origins traced to Chibok, but also from other parts of the state and the country, typical of a good secondary school that should unite Nigerians.
“I am also aware that the abducted students include both Christian and Muslim faithful. I am made to understand that the Ameera (spiritual head) of the Muslim Students Society in the school is among those abducted and yet to be freed. She was abducted alongside her Christian and Muslim colleagues. We must, therefore, remain united in our shared grief to pray vehemently for our girls, as well as the patriotic security agencies and civilian volunteers currently in relentless search and rescue efforts,” he said.
He called on Christian parents to use the Easter period to intensify prayers for the freedom of the girls and the return of peace in Borno and the rest of Nigeria.
CAN declares 3-day fasting
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State has declared fasting from today till Wednesday, to seek divine intervention for the release of the abducted students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok.
Reverend Titus Pona, state chairman of the association, announced the fasting to newsmen in Maiduguri, on Sunday.
“We are calling on all Christians in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and, even beyond, to begin a three- day fasting and prayer session to seek for God’s help for the release of the abducted girls.
“The continued stay of these girls in the abductors’ camp has created worry in the minds of the parents and other well-meaning Nigerians.
“We pray that through prayer, God will touch the hearts of the abductors, so that they will release them,” Pona said.
He also urged the insurgents to dialogue with the government if they had any grievances.
“We call on the insurgents to please put down their arms and dialogue with government, either at the state or at the federal level.
“They should release the girls in the name of God, because only 43 girls were reported to 52 escaped from the abductors,” he said.
Source: Tribune
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