In a heartfelt appeal, the parents of the remaining 92 Chibok girls held captive by Boko Haram have reached out to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to assist in securing the release of their daughters. Alongside their plea, the parents also extended their congratulations to President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on assuming office.
In a letter signed by Yana Galang, the mother of Rifkatu Galang, and Zanna Lawan, the father of Aisha Lawan, the parents implored President Tinubu to focus his attention on their plight, recounting the anguish they have endured since the abduction of 276 girls from Chibok Government Secondary School in 2014. Despite the passage of nine years and the end of the previous administration drawing near, their letter emphasized that 92 girls remain in captivity, enduring unimaginable suffering and abuse at the hands of their captors.
Although President Tinubu did not directly address the Chibok girls’ situation in his inaugural speech, the parents pointed out his commitment to prioritizing security. Citing this, they humbly requested the president’s intervention, urging him to shine a spotlight on the recovery efforts for the remaining 92 kidnapped daughters.
The parents further recalled former President Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge in his own inaugural speech in 2015, where he stated that defeating Boko Haram would not be complete without the rescue of the Chibok girls. They highlighted a previous statement released on April 14, 2021, titled “Chibok Girls Still on Our Minds,” which reassured them of their daughters’ eventual rescue and reintegration into their communities.
Addressing President Tinubu as the leader under the same political party, the parents expressed hope that history would remember him, his family, his government, and his party positively if he fulfills the promises made by his predecessor. They emphasized Vice President Shettima’s role in this endeavor, underscoring their belief in the potential for achieving their long-awaited reunion with their daughters.
Concluding their plea, the parents implored President Tinubu to become the beacon of light that would dispel their darkness, alleviate their pain, wipe away their tears, and liberate them from the chains of sadness, sorrow, and anguish that have plagued their existence. With another solemn commemoration on the horizon, they anxiously awaited the president’s assistance as their beacon of hope, their only viable alternative.