Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has appealed to commentators and analysts to refrain from making statements that can jeopardise the release of the Chibok girls who are still in captivity.

A press statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister, Segun Adeyemi, said Mohammed made the appeal at a special thanksgiving church service and reunion of the 21 girls with their families, yesterday in Abuja.

“They are many reckless analysts and commentators who are not helping the situation. We still have many of our children in captivity. Therefore, we have to be careful with the kind of comments that we make. We must not make comments that will make the release of these girls difficult or impossible”, he said.

Alhaji Mohammed, who quoted from the scriptures stating: “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them,” said those who doubted the sincerity and commitment of the present administration to the safe release of the abducted Chibok girls have been disappointed.

“When President Muhammed Buhari said that the Boko Haram saga will not be closed until all the girls abducted have been released and reunited with their families safely, those who doubted did not believe us. So we thank God this day has come,” he said.

He appealed to the parents of the girls who are yet to be freed to continue to exercise patience, saying: “This is the beginning and we are very optimistic that very soon another batch, bigger than this, will be released. I want to assure you that these negotiations are ongoing even as we speak.”

Speaking, Chairman of the Parents of the Abducted Chibok School Girls, Yakubu Nkeki, re-echoed the minister’s plea and appealed to the people to stop spreading rumours, particularly on the social media, that will put the lives of the girls at risk.

In her testimony, the spokesperson of the released girls, Miss Gloria Dame, who recalled their ordeal in captivity, thanked God and all those who made their safe release and reunion with their families possible.

Miss Dame, who spoke in Hausa, prayed that God will ensure the safe release of the other girls still in captivity.

“We never thought we would ever see this moment, but God has made it possible for us. I want to appeal to all of us to fast and pray for the safe release of those left behind,” she said.

While delivering the sermon, Dr. Shiktra Kwali admonished the girls not to allow the experience weigh them down and urged them to remain steadfast in serving God.