Following Thursday’s release of 21 out of the 218 Chibok school girls abducted by the terrorist Boko Haram group in Nigeria, the former minister of Education, and leading voice on the global #Bring Back Our Girls campaign, #BBOG, Oby Ezekwesili has expressed gratitude to God and equally thanked both the President Muhammadu Buhari and the gallant Nigerian soldiers for seeing to the safe release of the girls.
Ezekwesili who took to the social media to express her joy over the release of the girls said her mood was that of weeping, a cry that is a mixture of multiple emotions.
Calling on all Nigerians and the world to join voices with the Psalmist’s song of 126 in thanking God, she said at 4am in California, she could not sleep again because of joy. “I can only weep, right now. You know that kind of cry that is a mix of multiple emotions. Lord. Some of OUR Girls ARE BACK!!! B. A. C. K.!!”
“As WE @BBOG_Nigeria wait for FG and #ChibokParents identification of OUR 21 #ChibokGirls, THANK YOU, LORD. THANK YOU, @MBuhari .Thank you.” “It is4am in California and I can no longer sleep. Join me in singing the words of Psalm126… “When the Lord turned again the CAPTIVITY…” She also said it was a thing of joy that the number of the abducted girls has now reduced from 218 to 197. “On this DAY913 of OUR #ChibokGirls: President @MBuhari What Are We Demanding?
#BringBackOurGirlsNowAndAlive How many? 197 no longer 218!!!” “DAY 913 of OUR #ChibokGirls. WE @BBOG_Nigeria so thank our soldiers in the frontline of battle. You’ve given &keep giving so much SACRIFICE,” She concluded.
The released girls were among the 219 students stolen from their dormitory bed in Chibok community, Borno State on April 14, 2014. The Chibok girls were exchanged for four Boko Haram prisoners in Banki, an official of the Ministry of Information said. The girls were exchanged for four Boko Haram prisoners in Banki, northeast Nigeria, said a local source.
A government official said the ‘insurgents released the 21 Chibok girls to the Nigerian government.
Other sources revealed that the Chibok girls were rescued in Banki area of Borno state where Boko Haram militants had left them Thursday by military helicopter.
Recall that in previous videos from the militant group, its leader, Abubakar Shekau had demanded the release of Boko Haram fighters in exchange for the Chibok girls.