Former President Goodluck Jonathan says the 2014 abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State remains a permanent scar on his legacy.
Speaking at the launch of SCARS: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum by former Defence Chief General Lucky Irabor, Jonathan praised Irabor as “a soldier who stood for truth and never played politics with security.”
Jonathan admitted the tragedy left a mark he would “die with.” He said, “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.”
The kidnapping sparked global outrage and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. So far, 189 girls have been rescued or released, but over 80 remain missing, many forced into marriage or pregnancy. Survivors face trauma, shame, and disrupted education.
Jonathan recalled fighting Boko Haram for five years and expected Buhari to end it swiftly, but the insurgency persists. He argued that Boko Haram’s firepower shows foreign support, stressing Nigeria must adopt a hybrid “carrot and stick” approach.
Jonathan defended his silence after the abduction, saying it protected investigations, but critics accused his government of poor coordination.
The Federal Government maintains rescuing Leah Sharibu and remaining Chibok girls remains a top priority after over a decade.
The book launch was attended by dignitaries including Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar III, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Defence Chief General Christopher Musa, former NSA Babagana Monguno, General Alexander Ogomudia (rtd), Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba (rtd), and Budget Minister Atiku Bagudu.
