YENAGOA – The Bayelsa chapter of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has urged government at all levels to shelve the 2014 Children’s Day celebration as a mark of honour for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.
The group also called on the leadership of the Boko Haram sect to respect the rights of the Nigerian child and release the schoolgirls.
More than 200 schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, were abducted from school on April 14, which Boko Haram insurgents claimed responsibility for.
In a statement issued by the Bayelsa Chairman of CLO, Chief Nengi James, on Friday in Yenagoa, the group suggested that government at all levels should shelve the ceremonial fanfare associated with the May 27 Children’s Day.
The group also urged government to use the day to reflect on the current global campaign to free the missing schoolgirls.
The statement quoted Nengi as saying “although the Children’s Day is a day set aside for the celebration of the Nigerian Child, it is our view that the 2014 celebration should be shelved.
“Rather, this May 27 should be used to mobilise children nationwide to join the campaign for the release of the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok.’’
He urged the Civil Society Organisations (CSO), government agencies and the media to join the campaign with prayers and rallies for the release of the girls.
“How can we be celebrating when over 200 Nigerian children are in an unknown place and unsafe, with criminally and cold blooded killers?
“Nigerian children should use the day to pray for the abducted girls, rather than the routine march past and fanfare.’’ (NAN)
