Standup9ja: Release of Chibok schoolgirls is heart-warming –
U.S.
The release of 82 of the Chibok schoolgirls by their Boko
Haram captors, after three years, is heart-warming, the U.S. government said.
Mr Nathan Holt, the Deputy Director, Office of West African
Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, made the
remarks in Washington, D.C. via
teleconference on: “Nigeria, a critical U.S. partner’’.
He said the release of the girls from captivity was also a
positive development for them and their families.
“Many of you will have also followed the news of the release
of the Chibok girls over the weekend.
“Obviously, that was a heart-warming and positive
development for the young women involved and for their families.
“We’d like to point out that they’re among thousands of
victims of Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISIS West Africa,’’ Holt said.
The U.S. envoy explained that his country was carrying out a
lot of bilateral activities with Nigeria and multilateral cooperation,
involving the UN.
He noted that Nigeria had an influential voice on the
African continent.
“Again, that’s an overview of where we are in a very
important bilateral relationship for us.
“I’d like to point out as well that we’ve worked together
closely in the United Nations.
“We’ve worked together on issues of arms proliferation and
nuclear questions.
“So, Nigeria has a voice in Africa that is quite
influential.
“I’ve worked on Africa for most of my professional career
and it’s very good to be in a good place with this group.’’
Holt regretted that Boko Haram terrorists had brought untold
consequences on the country and its neighbours.
According to him, however, it is heart-warming that
civilians, who have been displaced, are gradually gaining access to some of the
recovered territories by military operations.
“One of the critical consequences of the Boko Haram and ISIS
West Africa insurgency, which has been going on since 2009, is that it has
produced terrible consequences for the population.
“As the military authorities have begun to coordinate their
activities more effectively, they and the civilian authorities have gained
access to areas previously under the control of Boko Haram.
“As that happens, we have all come to understand more
clearly the true dimensions of the humanitarian crisis,’’ the envoy said.
But, he said that the military operations alone could not
solve the problem in northeast of Nigeria.
“We are engaged with Nigeria and its neighbours, not only to
provide humanitarian relief to the victims of this insurgency but to help them
as security and intelligence partners to address the security dimensions of
this problem’
“At the end of the day, I think we and our partners all
recognise there’s no purely military solution.
“The hopes and aspirations of the people need to be met.
“Education, water and basic governance need to be provided
in areas where it has not been provided before.
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