FROM a nationwide outcry, the outrage against the abduction of over two hundred teenage secondary school girls in Borno State, has become global. At the same time, the utterances of some eminent Nigerians have continued to generate mixed feelings, leading to an atmosphere of confusion as the search for the girls continues
WE don’t know the location of the girls —President Jonathan
IF this thing had happened in another state and security personnel were moved, the whole world would have seen a lot of mobilization. Security personnel are already on ground. All the information given to us, we have searched the places, we have used helicopter to search the surfaces.
We promise that wherever these girls are, we will surely get them out. The good thing is that there is no story that any of the girls have been hurt, injured or dead. I really sympathize with the parents and guardians of these girls. We believe that wherever these girls are, we will get them out.
What we request is maximum cooperation from the parents and the guardians of these girls. Up till this time, they have not been able to come out clearly to give the police the identity of the girls that are to return. The police have records of 44 of them, while the principal mentioned to me on Saturday night that 53 have returned but the police have record of 44.
I recently set up a committee to go to Borno State, we will provide the security. We are pleading that the parents should cooperate with government, we will need the identities, including their photographs. We are also talking to neighboring countries so that wherever they take those girls to, we will surely get them back if we get the maximum cooperation from the parents and guardians.
Let me reassure Nigerians that we will get the girls out, we appreciate the concern shown by Nigerians and globally. We see what they are doing in terms of protest, which is quite healthy.”
It’s a heartbreaking situation—President Barack Obama
“We’ve already sent in a team to Nigeria. They’ve accepted our help through a combination of military, law enforcement, and other agencies who are going in, trying to identify where in fact these girls might be and provide them help. It’s a heartbreaking situation, outrageous situation. This may be the event that helps to mobilize the entire international community to finally do something against this horrendous organization that’s perpetrated such a terrible crime.’’
“We’ve already sent in a team to Nigeria. They’ve accepted our help through a combination of military, law enforcement, and other agencies who are going in, trying to identify where in fact these girls might be and provide them help. It’s a heartbreaking situation, outrageous situation. This may be the event that helps to mobilize the entire international community to finally do something against this horrendous organization that’s perpetrated such a terrible crime.’’
Abduction act of pure evil — Cameron
“This is not just a Nigerian issue, it is a global issue.There are extreme Islamists around our world who are against education, against progress, against equality and we must fight them and take them on wherever they are.’’
Govt in a state of denial —Soyinka
Govt in a state of denial —Soyinka
‘’This is a government which is not only in denial mentally, but in denial about certain obvious steps to take. It’s one of those rather child-like situations that if you shut your eyes, if you don’t exhibit the tactile evidence of the missing humanity here, that somehow the problem will go away. It is not just a Nigerian problem. I’m calling for the international community, the United Nations – this is a problem. This is a global problem. And a foothold is being very deeply entrenched in West Africa.’’
We’ll sell your girls into slavery —Shekau
“I abducted a girl at a Western education school and you are disturbed. I said Western education should end. Western education should end. Girls, you should go and get married. I will repeat this: Western education should fold up. I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah. I will marry off a woman at the age of 12. I will marry off a girl at the age of nine.’’
Nigerian women, don’t demonstrate again —Patience Jonathan
“Before all these killings, I called and told the first lady of Borno State to let us come together. She answered me yes, but when the kidnap happened, I called her, she did not answer me. I invited her, she did not turn up even up till today. No woman will fold her arms when her house is on fire. Today my house is on fire. Before last Friday, I called her and she promised to attend the Friday’s meeting here. But to our greatest surprise, she sent her commissioner for women affairs.
