Source: This Day Live
A human rights organisation, for Women BAOBAB yesterday demanded an apology from the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, for parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls for expressing doubts that the abduction ever took place.

The group, in a statement signed by its Borno State coordinator, Prof. Hauwa Abdu Biu, also asked the federal government to put adequate plans in place to cater for the needs of the parents and address their trauma.

The statement read: "BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights, Borno State outreach, condemns in its totality the actions of the wife of Nigerian president on the concerns shown by people within and outside Nigeria on the abduction of innocent girls. This act of criminality, as we are aware, violates their fundamental human rights to education.

"A situation where the wife of the president who does not have a role under the Nigerian constitution begins to summon and interrogate duly appointed government officials as well as giving them directives and detaining some of them is worrisome as this could interfere with the various actions put in place towards addressing terrorism crisis rocking the country," the group said.

The statement also called on the federal government to intensify efforts for the immediate rescue of the missing girls. "We want them back, safe in their homes wherever they are. The poor handling of information about the exact number of girls who are still missing and the fact that members of the Boko Haram have claimed responsibility for their abduction must not deter those with the responsibility for the safety of all Nigerians from working to find them," it added.

The group commended the effort of various women organisations within and outside the country, religious bodies, local and foreign media towards rescuing the abducted girls.

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