The Presidency has said that the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari should not be blamed for not rescuing all the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram Terrorists in Chibok, Borno State in April 2014.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said this on a Channels Television on Thursday.
Adesina, who spoke on Channels Television breakfast programme: “Sunrise Daily,” said despite the inability to secure the release of all the Chibok schoolgirls, the Buhari Administration had greatly improved security in the country and subdued insurgency.
He said: ”Can you say the insurgency is still what it was before 2015 when they killed people in thousands and seized control of many local governments in Borno State?
“Remember that in 2014 alone, over 7,000 persons were lost to insurgency, whereas in 2022, a little over 2,000 died from Boko Haram attacks.
“Don’t get me wrong.
“To lose just one soul is already bad enough.
“But we cannot say we are still where we were before 2015 when this government assumed office.
“In 2015, we knew where Nigeria was, today we know where we are.
“Two hundred and seventy-six schoolgirls were spirited away, about 57 escaped immediately, and over 100 have been returned by the administration.
“The ones that are left, I think 90-something, they are Nigerians, they have the right to be brought back.
“But then, if a government came in when the trail was already cold and you couldn’t trace where the girls were taken, you can’t then blame it solely for not bringing them back.
“That would not be quite right.
“Dapchi girls were taken under the administration.
“And within the week, they were recovered, except maybe five, including Leah Sharibu, sadly.
“I believe that with the Chibok girls, we should rather appreciate God and appreciate the government for what was achieved.
“It is not as if the government folded its arms and didn’t do anything.
“It did its level best.
“Because government is a continuum, the incoming government, if it recovers more of those girls, the country will gladly receive them.”