Why I Will Die With Scar Of Chibok Girls’ Abduction – Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted that the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls will always remain one of the darkest memories of his time in office.

Speaking in Abuja at the launch of “SCARS: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum”, a memoir by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Jonathan said the incident is a permanent stain on his legacy.

“The title of this book is quite interesting. One of the major scars on my government is the Chibok Girls. As Bishop Kukah said, no plastic or cosmetic surgeon can remove it. It is a scar I will die with,” he said.

Jonathan praised Irabor for his dedication and integrity, describing him as “a soldier who stood for truth and never played politics with security.”

He recalled that Boko Haram’s insurgency began in 2009 when he was Vice President under Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and later escalated during his presidency.

“I battled Boko Haram for five years as President,” he explained, noting that, “I thought Buhari would wipe them out quickly, but they remain.”

Jonathan also called for a new approach to tackling terrorism, stressing that a mix of force and dialogue.

The former President said the insurgents’ access to advanced weapons suggested that “external forces” were supplying them.

“We must approach Boko Haram differently. The carrot and stick method may be required to address this insurgency.

“Sometimes they even had more munitions than our soldiers. That does not reflect the actions of hungry villagers,” he said.

The abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, drew global outrage and inspired the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. While many of the girls have since been rescued or freed, more than 80 are still missing.

Jonathan’s administration came under heavy criticism at the time for its slow response and reluctance to accept foreign assistance. Civil society groups and parents accused his government of mishandling the crisis.

Defending himself, Jonathan said his silence was to protect sensitive security operations and avoid jeopardizing intelligence work.

Over a decade later, about 189 of the girls have returned, but dozens remain in captivity, many struggling with trauma and stigma after years away from their families.

The Federal Government has repeatedly promised that rescuing the remaining Chibok girls, along with Leah Sharibu, remains a top national priority.

KanyiDaily recalls that Senator Orji Kalu, who represents Abia North, recently accused powerful politicians of backing Boko Haram to create chaos and weaken President Bola Tinubu’s government.