describing their safe return as a big relief to their families, the
entire country and the international community.
Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s spokesman, in a statement on
Thursday, quoted the president as expressing the nation’s appreciation
for the steps taken by all those involved to make their release
possible.
Buhari specifically cited what he called the “spirit of partnership and
the collaborative efforts of the government of Katsina, Zamfara and
military leading to the release.’’
He commended the nation’s intelligence agencies, the military, and
police force for providing the environment for the safe release of the
hostages.
“The Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, and the army worked extremely hard.
As soon as I got the information I congratulated them.
” The Armed Forces know their job. They have been well trained and
properly motivated,” he said.
On the issue of detainees held elsewhere in the country by either
terrorists or bandits, the president gave assurances that his
administration was aware of its responsibility to protect the lives and
property of Nigerians.
He urged the citizens to be patient and fair to the administration as it
deals with the problems of security, economy and corruption.
The president noted that the administration was fully aware that it was
elected to resolve challenges.
“When we came, we made efforts that yielded the return of the Chibok
Girls.
” When a similar incident of school abduction happened at Dapchi, we
successfully returned all but one of the more than one hundred
abductees.
”When this latest incident happened, we put in our efforts and today we
have this result to show,” he said.
The president pointed to the successes of the administration in dealing
with security in the South-South and North East.
According to him, the North West now presents a challenge that his
administration is determined to deal with.
“We have a lot of work to do, especially now that we have re-opened the
borders.
” It is unfortunate that the bandits and terrorists continue to get
weapons even under the circumstances of the border closure.
”We are going to dare them. We will deal with all that,” the president
further said.
He prayed for the full recovery of the students whom he said had endured
significant hardships in the course of their six-day ordeal.
The president gave an assurance of his administration’s desire to return
to safety all citizens held against their will.(NAN)