Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has expressed delight at the release of 279 Jangebe Schoolgirls while also praying for the release of the remaining girls.
317 of the girls were abducted last Friday from their boarding school, the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The Governor, Bello Matawalle, however, put the number of girls recovered at 279, leaving about 31 still unaccounted for, as seven of the girls had earlier escaped their captors.
Governor Matawalle said the 279 were released with the help of repentant bandits without any ransom paid.
Atiku in a statement on Tuesday congratulated Zamfara State Government and all those involved in securing their release.
He however implored the federal government to take the lead in ensuring that such incidents do not happen again.
” As a father, I am delighted at the release of 279 students of GGSS Jangebe.
” Even as I rejoice with the families of the released, I hope and pray that the balance of the girls would soon regain their freedom and be rejoined with their families and loved ones. No student, parent or indeed citizen should go through this ordeal again.
” I congratulate the Zamfara State government and all those who worked in synergy to secure the safe return of these girls.
” I am convinced that the government will secure the release of the rest of the victims. The bigger task is to ensure that these kinds of incidents do not happen again, and that is an objective that the federal government should take the lead.
