Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said Leah Sharibu, a schoolgirl still in the dreaded Boko Haram’s custody, was not forgotten by the Buhari administration.
He also said the government would keep negotiating for her release and others captured by the sect.
Mr Osinbajo said this at a conference he had at the White House, Washington, D.C. with his American counterpart, Mike Pence.
Ms Sharibu, along with 111 other girls and a schoolboy, was one of the schoolgirls captured by the insurgents on February 19, 2018 in the Yobe State Local Government Area of Bursari. At the moment she was kidnapped, she was allegedly 14 years old.
After weeks of government-terrorist talks, 106 students were freed on March 21, 2018.
It was recorded that five of the remaining six died while being carried to the sanctuary of the sect.
The terrorists allegedly refused to release Ms Sharibu for refusing to renounce her Christian religion and convert to Islam.
In latest months, global calls for her release have stepped up.
On the government’s attempts to secure Ms. Sharibu’s release, Mr. Osinbajo voiced President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to continue negotiating for her release and that of the remaining Chibok girls kidnapped.
“Over 100 of the Chibok girls that were abducted even before President Buhari came into government have been released under the Buhari administration.
“Most of the Chibok girls, 90 per cent of them were also Christians,’’ Mr Osinbajo said.
Mr Pence, on the other hand, appreciated the Nigerian government’s efforts and offered the support of the U.S. to ensure the release of others still abducted.
“I appreciate the perspective on Leah Sharibu; I am aware of the sensitive nature of her plight,” Mr Pence said.
He also observed that Christians were the majority of the women freed in the Chibok abduction.
Mr Osinbajo recalled how Boko Haram militants assaulted Mr Buhari in 2014.
He said it was the president’s believe and often openly declared opinion that anyone who murdered an innocent individual and then said “God is geat” was either crazy or simply did not comprehend what he was saying.
Meanwhile, the conference highlighted economic, military help, countering extremism and terrorism issues, Laolu Akande, spokesperson for Mr Osinbajo, said in a declaration in Abuja on Thursday.
He said both leaders affirmed the intrinsic shared advantage of a deeper bilateral relationship.
The meeting took place on Wednesday.
Both vice presidents asserted the need for ongoing observance of the rule of law in their conversation on the economy, military aid and other problems.
They also recognized the pride of place of Nigeria on the African continent and the reputed world leadership of America.
“Issues discussed at the nearly hour-long meeting and interactions between the two leaders include how to counter extremism, the threat of global terrorism, and the continuous observation of the rule of law, among others.
“While both leaders agreed on the need to strengthen the economy and markets generally, Osinbajo added that the US is a natural ally of Nigeria, as Nigeria and US have many things in common.’’
Mr Osinbajo said Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, offered US investors excellent possibilities.
He said his White House visit was intended to deepen further the bond between the two countries and their citizens.
Mr Pence allegedly defined Nigeria as a wonderful nation in their financial discussion.
“Nigeria is a great country with a history of 200 million people; that’s a great nation. I want to see Nigeria prospering more.
“I am grateful that you reached out, the door is open for more dialogue.”
Mr Pence urged Nigeria to continue to pursue economic market reforms and promote an independent judiciary, adding that the rule of law would contribute to the future of Nigeria.
Both rulers also addressed the financial diversification attempts of Nigeria, during which Mr. Osinbajo spoke about how Nigeria deepened the manufacturing industry and reformed the energy sector to allow more investors.
Mr Osinbajo acknowledged USAID’s assistance through its Power Africa initiative, which helped Nigeria open up the energy industry further.
Mr Osinbajo thanked the Trump administration for its support on the purchase order for the Tucano aircraft on safety issues and military aid, stressing that such military equipment would assist Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
On Thursday morning Mr Osinbajo returned to Abuja.
