Joseph Bakare
The federal government through the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, has said that only God can determined when kidnapped Dapchi girl, Leah Sharibu, will be rescued.
He also said the Presidency was not worried by the derogatory comment made by US President, Donald Trump, about President Muhammadu Buhari.
Leah Sharibu is the only girl still in the custody of Boko Haram insurgents who invaded their school in Dapchi, Yobe State, and abducted 111 of the students.
She spoke through a video released from her custody some 48 hours ago, pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari to secure her release
Despite the release of the other Dapchi schoolgirls, Sharibu was held back by her captors for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.
Speaking in an interview on a Channels Television programme, Sunrise, yesterday, when asked to give a time frame for Sharibu’s rescue, Adesina said God was the sole determinant of her return.
He said: “For how much longer, I think that question can only be answered by God. I believe that God is interested in that young girl and will ensure that she is preserved.
“I think when that clip that we have is verified, at least one will be sure that it’s her and when that is determined, we should all be glad that she is alive.
“When will she return? By the grace of God, the government is working on it and we believe she will be back.”
Adesina said Buhari had made a commitment to do anything to rescue the kidnapped girls, even if it meant paying for their release.
He, however, denied reports that the government paid ransom for the release of the other 110 girls.
“That is not confirming that there was payment on Dapchi because the then director general of Department of State Services, DSS, was categorical the day the girls were brought back and it was in public glare that no a dime was paid for Dapchi girls. On Dapchi, there was no payment,” he said.