The United States government has strongly condemned the abduction of
some girls from the Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, in
Yobe State.
Addressing reporters in Kaduna State, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria,
Mr Stuart Symington, described the invasion of schools and abduction
of innocent students by the Boko Haram terrorists as the highest
height of desperation by the outlawed group.
Symington, who spoke after visiting a tomato farm in Igabi Local
Government Area of the state alongside Governor Nasir El-Rufai, urged
Nigerians to support the government in tackling insecurity in the
country.
“There are many reasons for insecurity in the world, but the greatest
reason is that people sometimes depend on others to keep them
secured,” he said.
The business of keeping Nigeria secure is not the business of any
small group of Nigerians, it’s the business of every day of every
Nigerian.”
On ways to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency and develop the country,
the US Envoy is of the view that the Federal Government must tackle
poverty, illiteracy, and underdevelopment at all levels.
He stressed that such challenges are what breed insecurity, pointing
out the urgent need for the government to address the issues,
especially in the North East where the insurgency has killed several
people displaced thousands.
“The fundamental way for Nigeria to be even greater tomorrow than it
is today is for every Nigerian to be educated and healthier; have a
better job, have a better life, have a better sense of their own civic
duties and responsibilities,” Symington said.
Conflicting figures of the abducted girls had emerged after suspected
terrorists stormed the school on Monday and forcefully took away some
girls while others were said to have fled into the bush.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity
Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buhari described the abduction as a
national disaster.
The President, however, gave the assurance that no effort would be
spared by the Federal Government to rescue the girls and bring succour
to their families.
