Pastor Tunde Bakare Urges action against Cameroon, Chad, Niger

CONVENER, Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has asked the Federal Government to take a strong action against the neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic over the abduction of about 200 pupils of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

The cleric, who spoke during a service in his Latter Rain Assembly church on Sunday in Lagos, noted that the government needed to take action in the light of reports, which indicated that the missing girls had been taken across the Nigerian border.

About 200 girls of the school in Chibok, were abducted from their hostels on April 14 with recent reports stating that they were being married off in neighbouring countries.

Bakare urged President Goodluck Jonathan to threaten war with the neighbouring countries until they produced the girls.

He said, “I want to see the President of our country sending ambassadors of peace and war to Chad, to Cameroon, to Niger Republic, to say that this is the report we are hearing. Our

borders are porous and now our children are abducted and we understand they are in your territory.

“We ask you within 10 days to fish them out, whether there is international law or no international law. We will show you we are the big brothers in West Africa. We are coming against you if you don’t fish them out.

“I’d like to read that in the papers. I’d like my President to come out on national television to say wherever those children are we are going to pursue them.

“No more just sitting down and watching. Let the Commander-in-Chief become the Commander-in-Chief and let those hindering him from exercising his authority be silenced forever.”

Reacting to a statement credited to the President’s wife, Patience Jonathan, that she would lead a march if the girls were not found, Bakare noted that military action, and not protest, would solve the problem.

“Dame Patience Jonathan said she was ready to march the streets to get our girls back. You don’t get them back by marching on the streets; you get them back by telling those nations that we are coming for you,” he said.

He also condemned Jonathan for giving his adopted daughter a state wedding when the missing girls had not been found and reports had it that they were being married off.

Bakare further called on the President to bring to book those in the armed forces who were in the habit of lying to the nation.

“Nigeria is in a state of war but what I don’t understand is the state of mind of the Commander-in-Chief. Some people told him a lie that the children had been taken back and only eight were in custody. Who was fooling the nation and cajoling us? Has any action been taken?” he asked.