If former President Goodluck Jonathan had acted faster, the Chibok girls would have been found and rescued.

President Jonathan failed to believe that the girls were kidnapped – a month after their abduction by dreaded Boko Haram sect.

This opinion was asserted by the spokesperson of the BringBackOurGirls coalition, Tunji Olanrewaju, as the group marked the 2-year anniversary of the girls’ kidnap from their school in Chibok, Borno state.

He noted that the Buhari government has made more effort towards finding the missing Chibok girls than Jonathan ever did.

“We believe strongly that the delay is a strong factor, no doubt about that and it was the reason why we came our very vocally against the government that they needed to do something, act faster and be more creative in how they go about it.”

“Experts are of the opinion that in the case of abduction, if a rescue mission is not launched within the first 48 hours, the chances of successful rescue diminishes. Because of the doubt that permeated the government at that time, the right thing was not done and that is the reason we are where we are today.”

“The first official response did not happen until after 18 days and then, the fact-finding committee was set up on the 19th day of the abduction, the implication was that the government was in doubt about the abduction and it was after the fact-finding committee submitted its report that we had an official response from the government that 219 school girls were abducted. That was how we came about the 219 girls; it was the Sabo committee that established that fact.”

While noting that the location of the girls was established using satellite operated by foreign countries, Olanrewaiu said there was no immediate effort to rescue the girls.

Speaking on the possibility of the girls being used by the sect as suicide bombers, the BBOG spokesperson said: “Most of the girls quoted in the report are below 12, they are below the age of Chibok girls who are about 17 years and above. We know that most of the child bombers may not be Chibok girls but they are Nigerians and this made us sad.”

In comparing the proactiveness of both the Jonathan and Buhari administrations, Olanrewaju stated that: “The sad fact is that the girls are not back, but we acknowledge that the response of the Buhari government as against that of Jonathan government has been more proactive and more hands-on.”

“It was difficult for Jonathan government to even accept that the girls were missing, it took about 19 days for the government to react officially, it took almost one month after before the Sabo committee was asked to do a verification before the report was ready, it took a lot of time.”

“Buhari’s government coming in knew there was a problem it had to solve and I know that it probably under-estimated the enormity of the challenge, which is obvious.”

“It had not been able to give us the girls back, but it would be horrible to say he has not done anything– soldiers are dying every day, trying to find the girls, soldiers are dying every day recovering territories occupied by Boko Haram, and that is something commendable and we are grateful for all they have done. On the flip side, this war would not have been won until the girls are found.”