From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri
A group of concerned Borno citizens, under the auspices of Southern Borno Development Association (SBDA), has appealed to parents and guardians of over 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok not to lose hope on their daughters.
Chairman of the group, Yahaya Gaya, who spoke at a press briefing, noted that they are confident the girls would return home safely soon.
“We urged the parents and the community not to lose hope that they will soon be re-united with their daughters”, it said.
The group said it was aware of the murderous and blood-letting acts of Boko Haram, which it described as the worse in history of mankind, but assured that the concern, support and prayers of Nigerians and the world would turn their gloom to hope and finally joy.
“The psychological trauma which the victims and their parents are undergoing will leave a permanent imprint on their minds. To imagine what the victims are undergoing in the hands of the bandits, who are masquerading under the banner of Islam, only send chills down our spines,” the group said.
It claimed that Boko Haram insurgents were holding the country hostage due to “failure of intelligence and political manipulation.
“We should ask ourselves how come that a small group of people has come to hold an entire state, albeit a region and country, hostage? it stated.
