The Federal Government has restated its commitment to securing the release of Leah Sharibu and the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls, assuring Nigerians that their rescue remains a national priority.

Adamu Laka, national coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), gave the assurance on Tuesday at a multi-agency anti-kidnapping meeting in Abuja, held in collaboration with the UK’s National Crime Agency.

Laka said efforts to secure the release of the girls were ongoing, involving a combination of covert operations, negotiations, and sustained intelligence work.

His words: “Since their abduction, the rescue process has been gradual. It involved negotiations, covert operations, and persistent intelligence work.

“I was in the theatre of operations shortly after the Chibok abductions, and I can personally attest to the commitment of military and intelligence agencies to rescuing the girls.”

In April 2014, 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state. While many have been rescued or escaped, at least 87 are believed to still be in captivity.

Laka said the fact that the issue no longer dominates the headlines does not mean government efforts have ceased.

He said: “We haven’t given up. Some of the girls were forced into marriage with insurgents, but several have since come out.

“The silence in the media doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten. There are also humanitarian workers, Nigerians, who were kidnapped and have been rescued. Our operations go beyond just the Chibok case.”

He also addressed concerns about Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi schoolgirl abducted in February 2018 and reportedly held back by Boko Haram for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.

He stated: “The fact that her name isn’t in the headlines daily doesn’t mean we aren’t working. We’re on it.

“Our prayer remains that by the grace of God, the remaining 80-plus girls will return home.”

He also gave an update on the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, which was inaugurated in December 2024 by Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser.

Laka said the cell, established within the NCTC, has become a central hub for intelligence gathering and operational coordination in tackling kidnapping and related crimes.