Some human right activists have urged the Federal Government to intensify negotiation to facilitate the release of the remaining missing Chibok girls.
They gave then advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise Initiative, told NAN that further meaningful negotiations could lead to the safe return of the remaining girls
“The Women Arise commends the Federal Government for its untiring effort at ensuring the release of the abducted Chibok girls, who have been in the captivity of the Boko Haram insurgents for over two years.
“While we appreciate the efforts and the gain so far made, we are still of the opinion that further dialogue and meaningful negiotiations will lead to the safe return of the remaining girls.
Similarly, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC). while commending government’s effort, said that 21 out of over 200 was still few.
Akiyode-Afolabi urged the government to provide immediate psyco social support for the girls and ensure that they were reintegrated back into the society.
“Nigerian government is commended for the efforts at bringing our girls back,
“Having said that we stilll expect more. Twenty one out of over 200 is still few. We will continue to make demands until they all return, ” Akiyode-Afolabi said.
Also, Mr Femi Aborishade, a Human Rights Lawyer, urged government to address poverty which was the root cause of insurgency.
“It is a welcome development, Some of us had for long been advocating such an exchange through negotiations and swapping.
“Government should begin to address the root cause of insurgency because the real terror disturbing Nigeria, in various forms, is poverty.
“Government should make increased investment in education, establishment of public enterprises and initiation of policies that favour productive activities so as to take the increasing army of the unemployed from the influences of negative ideologies and criminalities, ” Aborishade said. (NAN)
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