The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, today called for the unconditional release of the over 200 Chibok girls and many other abducted children in Nigeria’s North-East.

Mr Ban, who was in the Presidential Villa for talks with President Muhammadu Buhari, stressed a strong solidarity with the affected families and the Nigerian people.

He, however, described the abduction of the girls from their dormitory in a government school in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, 2014 and other Nigerians in the North-East as intolerable. The evil act is blamed on Boko Haram terrorists.

Mr Ban said that terrorism knows no boundaries and more than ever, collaboration is indispensable in the fight.

He congratulated President Buhari on his stand on corruption and fight against terrorism, describing Nigeria as a source of support to Africa.

The UN Secretary General commended the contribution of Nigeria to UN peace operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone and the crucial role it is currently playing in the UN Security Council.

Mr Ban commended President Buhari’s stand on human rights in the fight against terror, saying that military operations alone will not be sufficient.

He, nonetheless, called for more effort to be centred on tackling the root causes of terrorism such as expansion of educational and employment opportunities for young people.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows the Chibok schoolgirls as appeared in a Boko Haram video.