UN READY TO END BOKO HARAM

IT IS TIME TO RELEASE CHIBOK GIRLS
BY MOSES ADEYEMI

United Nations Security Council has called on Boko Haram to immediately release the more than 200 abducted Chibok schoolgirls and end all violent attacks against Nigeria and its
neighbour, Cameroon.

The Security Council in a statement placed on its website after its meeting on Monday also condemned the recent escalation in attacks by the insurgents, expressing concerns that its activitieswere undermining the peace and stability of the West and Central African region.

The Security Council demands that Boko Haram immediately and unequivocally cease all hostilities and all abuses of human rightsand violations of international humanitarian law and disarm and demobilise,” Chile’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Cristián Melet, declared on Monday while reading a statement approved by the council.

A group called Avaaz had on Friday launched a campaign calling on the UN Security Council to pass an emergency resolution calling for an end to insurgency and the release of the Chibok girls by Boko Haram.

Avaaz is a global web movement “to bring people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere.” The group on Monday had hailed
the declaration by the UNSC.

Boko Haram has butchered its way into the global spotlight and finally the Security Council is reacting. Today’s statement is a critical start and all eyes are now on Nigeria, its neighbours and the international community.