Council of State wants Chibok girls rescued alive

It was the first time the council spoke on Boko Haram’s abduction of the schoolgirls on April 8.The meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan was attended by former Heads of State, retired Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as former Head of Interim National Government Chief Ernest Shonekan and former presidents […]

It was the first time the council spoke on Boko Haram’s abduction of the schoolgirls on April 8.
The meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan was attended by former Heads of State, retired Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as former Head of Interim National Government Chief Ernest Shonekan and former presidents Shehu Shagari and Olusegun Obasanjo.
Senate President, David Mark, and House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwa, as well as former Chief Justices Mohammed Uwais and Alfa Belgore also attended.
The governors present were those of Ada-mawa, Kaduna, Delta, Niger, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Kebbi, Gombe, Bauchi, Kogi, Enugu, Edo and Taraba States, while those of Benue, Jigawa, Ondo, Ogun and Yobe States were represented by their deputies.
Briefing State House journalists after the three-hour closed door meeting, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio said President Jonathan and his National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, briefed the council on the steps being taken on current security challenges.
Akpabio noted that the abduction of the schoolgirls topped the agenda of the meeting, saying the council emphasised that the issue was not about whether the federal government could rescue the girls or not, but on how to rescue them alive.
The governor, who said the military authorities confirmed the efforts being made to rescue them, said the council was pleased to know that the security agencies knew the captives’ whereabouts.
“We are very satisfied the security agents know very well where the girls are located and they are on top of situation”, he said.
Also speaking, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the council warned the media against celebrating terrorist activities, politicians against playing politics with security matters and religious leaders against insinuating that terrorists belong to one particular religion.
“We’re unanimous that the media should put the country first and the headlines and stories should be in such a way that they’re informed by Nigerian national interest because if we celebrate terrorism, then we’re giving them incentive. Editors must know what to report and censure because when there is no country, there is no media or politician. We, as politicians, should be more sensitive to national security. When it comes to national security, partisanship should give way to all hands being on deck. We must speak with one voice in denouncing terrorism.
“Also is the role of religious leaders. It is not helpful for any religious leader to seek to rationalise this act by suggesting that terrorists belong to one religion or that their target is another religion and that the entire thing is based on religion. It is clear that these are just criminals masquerading in whatever name they choose to call themselves…I think Nigerians need to understand that and there can be no quick fix. What is required is that there is sufficient political will to deal with the situation to secure the Nigerian space”, Oshiomhole said.