Chibok Girls’ Kidnapping Left a Permanent Mark on Me – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan spoke about the 2014 abduction of Chibok secondary school girls, calling it a lasting blemish on his time in office.

Speaking on Friday at the public presentation of ‘SCARS: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum’, a memoir by former Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Jonathan said no plastic surgeon can remove the scar of the Chibok girls’ abduction, stating that he would die with the pain.

He, however, praised Irabor, describing him as a good soldier who stood for the truth and never played politics with issues of security.

276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, were abducted in 2014 by Boko Haram insurgents. 

Although some were later freed or escaped, about 80 children remain in captivity, with their fate uncertain.

Speaking at the presentation of the book by Irabor, Jonathan said, “The title of this book is quite interesting. One of the major scars on my government is the Chibok Girls.

“As Bishop Kukah said, no plastic or cosmetic surgeon can remove it. It is a scar I will die with.”

Despite the submission, Jonathan clarified that his administration wasn’t complacent about fighting the Boko Haram terrorists, recalling that Boko Haram began in 2009 when he was Vice President under Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and intensified under his rule.

He added that he hoped Muhammadu Buhari, who succeeded him, would win the battle against the insurgents, but that has not been the case, and the war is still ongoing.

“I battled Boko Haram for five years as President,” he explained, noting that, “I thought Buhari would wipe them out quickly, but they remain.”

Jonathan called on the government of Nigeria to explore a different strategy in dealing with the terrorists, submitting that the insurgency is “far more complex than many assume.”

The former President questioned why the crisis has persisted since 2009 despite military campaigns and international assistance.

“We must approach Boko Haram differently. The carrot and stick method may be required to address this insurgency,” Jonathan said.

He argued that the terrorists have external support, which is evident in the advanced weaponry they parade.

“Sometimes they even had more munitions than our soldiers. That does not reflect the actions of hungry villagers,” he said.