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FG Responsible For Failure To Rescue Chibok Girls -US
Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade/Head of Iranian Delegation, Mr Mohammad Nemaizadeh (left) and Minister of State (left) for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, signing Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism, Geology, Mining, Mineral Processing and Industrial Cooperation at the 5th Nigeria-Iran Joint Commission meeting in Abuja last Thursday. Photo: NAN
The United States says the Nigerian government should be held responsible for the seeming lack of progress in rescuing the over 200 kidnapped teenage girls.
The over 270 girls were kidnapped from the dormitory of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, by the Boko Haram.
Over 50 of them escaped and reunited with their family while 219 are believed to still be with the insurgents.
The U.S. is among several Western countries assisting Nigeria is the search for the girls and the battle against the insurgent Boko Haram, which has killed over 12,000 people since its insurgency began in 2009.
Reacting yesterday to questions about how useful the collaboration has been, Ambassador Phillip Carter of the U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) said the U.S. government is only assisting the Nigerian government on the kidnap that has sparked protests across the globe.
“Fundamentally, the question of what this is achieving, that is a question you should pose to the Nigerian government and not AFRICOM,” he said.
The Nigerian government has been criticised for its failure to rescue the girls over two months since their abduction. The Nigerian military has said it knows the whereabouts of the girls but would not use force to rescue them to avoid casualty.
Mr. Carter, speaking during the 6th U.S. Africa Command Academic Symposium in Accra, Ghana, explained the existing partnership with the Nigerian government on efforts to rescue the girls.
“We were asked by the leadership of Nigeria to provide help to the Nigerian government to deal with the horrible phenomenon, Boko Haram. We have an inter-agency, inter-government effort with the Nigerian government run through our embassy in Abuja under our ambassador,” he said.
The ambassador also debunked rumours that the U.S. government is leading any operation in Nigeria. He said AFRICOM’s core engagement with Nigeria includes locating the girls and improving the Nigerian Security Forces’ capacity to manage information.
“[AFRICOM] is not leading them (Nigerian soldiers) to do anything. We are not putting any equipment on the ground. We are only to support them. That is the direction of President Obama and the request of President Jonathan,” he said.
He explained some of the Command’s activities on the continent, and said AFRICOM has no intensions of militarising Africa. He said AFRICOM is a geographic combatant command of the U.S. Defense Department and is focused on military relations with African states and other regional security organisations on the continent. AFRICOM, which began operations in 2007, is located in Germany but holds liaison officers at key African posts in the continent.
Mr. Carter, who served as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Guinea from 2007 to 2008 and has also served in other capacities in Africa, Asia, and South America, delivered opening remarks at the kick-off of the Symposium which will run from June 23 to 26.
Also speaking during the event, the representative of the Ghanaian Minister of Defence, Mark Woyongo, bemoaned the mixed results achieved by security operatives in the sub-region.
“This year’s theme which is titled Perspectives and Partners on Population-Centric Security Sector Transformation is both timely and topical because of the contemporary security challenges facing our region and Africa as a whole,” he said.
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene