President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said his government would not rest until the over 200 girls abducted in their school in Chibok, Borno State about two years ago are rescued alive.

Buhari made the submission in a speech he delivered to the parliament of the European Union Strasbourg, France.

A copy of the speech was obtained by our correspondent in Abuja.

Buhari said he remained committed to the promise he made to the parents of the abducted girls that his administration would rescue them alive.

He thanked individual EU member states for their various assistance towards the success of the Nigerian military onslaught against the Boko Haram sect while noting their pledges to support  efforts towards the rescue of the kidnapped girls.

He said, “It may interest you to know that in a recent meeting I had with parents of the Chibok Girls, I assured them that government would not rest until all the girls are rescued alive and reunited with their families.

“I remain fully committed to this pledge.

“Since my assumption of office in May last year, we have re-organised the Nigerian Armed Forces and repositioned them to deal decisively with the Boko Haram terrorists.

“Indeed, all the Local Government Areas that were hitherto under the control of the Boko Haram terrorists in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States in the North-Eastern flank of Nigeria, have been recaptured.

“The Internally Displaced Persons are gradually returning to their communities.  The Federal Government is committed to rebuilding schools, hospitals and other vital infrastructure destroyed by the fleeing terrorists.

“Currently, the activities of Boko Haram have been reduced to the Sambisa Forest and their capacity to launch major offensives has been degraded.

” Boko Haram has now resorted to attacking soft targets such as markets, mosques and churches using innocent under-aged hapless children to detonate locally made Improvised Explosive Devices.”

Credit: Punch