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Tag: Dapchi school girls

  • Released Dapchi Girls: UN reports claims government paid ‘huge ransom’

    A report by the United Nations (UN) has claimed that the federal government paid huge ransom for the release of Dapchi school girls kidnapped in February.

    Titled “Letter dated 16 July 2018 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups,  undertakings and entities addressed to the President of the  Security Council,” was obtained from the UN’s official website on Thursday.

    Signed by the Coordinator, Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, Edmund Fitton-Brown, and the Chair, Security Council Committee, it stated that Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have had similar impact in their areas of control, including the Lake Chad basin.

    In paragraph 43 of the 25-page report, the UN said: “The predominance in the region of the cash economy, without controls, is conducive to terrorist groups funded by extortion, charitable donations, smuggling, remittances and kidnapping.

    “In Nigeria, 111 schoolgirls from the town of Dapchi were kidnapped on 18 February 2018 and released by ISWAP on 21 March 2018 in exchange for a large ransom payment.”

    Read Also: Jubilation as Dapchi girls return

    This is coming months after the federal government refuted reports that ransom was paid to the extremist sect for the release of the student hostages.

    According to the report, the number of doctrinally based non-governmental organizations sending funds to local terrorist groups was growing, and Member States were concerned that radicalization was increasing the threat level in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin.

    It said Jama‘at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) successfully combined regional terrorist groups in an Al-Qaida-affiliated coalition in West Africa,  which increased attacks and propaganda against French, United States of America and others.

    In Lybia, the report said the numerical strength of ISIL was estimated to vary between 3,000 and 4,000 individuals dispersed across the country.

    “Its central command in Libya may lie in the triangle between Bani Walid, southern Sirte and Jufrah district. The leadership structure is headed by Abu Moaz Al-Tikriti (not listed), an Iraqi national who is reportedly still alive despite reports of his death in an airstrike.

    “Al-Qaida continues to resurge in Libya, its ranks composed of elements of its historical component, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, as well as Shura councils in Darnah, Benghazi and Ajdabiya.

    “AQIM in the Sahel, led by Yahya Abu al-Hamam (not listed), maintains networks of mutual financial support and arms supply with Al-Qaida in Libya. The mountainous areas in the west of Tunisia continue to harbour elements of ISIL and Al-Qaida. The country is affected by the fluid situation in Libya.

    “In April 2018, the Tunisian Armed Forces began counter-terrorism operations around Kasserine against the AQIM affiliate Uqba Ibn Nafi Battalion and Jund al-Khilafah  in Tunisia, during which it dismantled several ISIL sleeper cells in the region.

    “In Egypt, military operations, which began in Sinai in February 2018, continue against Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM). The group pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in November 2014. Some Member States assess that the group may consist of up to 1,000 fighters and are concerned that it continues to exhibit signs of resilience.

    “Member States assess that returning foreign terrorist fighters, particularly those of North African origin, continue to pose a threat to the region. One Member State in the region noted that those returnees buoyed the ranks of Jund al-Khilafa in Algeria and Al Mourabitoun, renewing the ability of those organizations to carry out operations.

  • ‘Boko Haram can’t stop us from sending our children to school’

    When Boko Haram returned the Dapchi school girls that they abducted one month ago, they left a strong warning to the residents not to send their children back to school again. As if that was not enough, the bigger threat issued was re-emphasized from the testimonies of some of the freed girls that the insurgents told them that should they go back to western education again, they will risk their freedom should they get abducted again.

    Many have sat to ponder on the threat as some of the girls even before the threat of the insurgents became skeptical of going back to school having witnessed the black Monday of 19th February when the insurgents stormed their school and carted away with over 100 of their classmates.

    With the comments of most of the parents, it is as good as the advice of the insurgents have fallen on deaf ears as the threats did not in any way  deterred the resilience of the parents to continue to educate their children and ensure they accomplish  their dreams.

    Musa Kalla, the father of Zara Musa who was also abducted and brought back safely told our correspondent that, “no one can stop me to educate my daughter. It is not possible for me to obey Boko Haram for that kind of advice. God is the creator and the maker of everything that happens in this world. My daughter Isha Allah will continue with her school and become what God has destined her to be,” Musa said.

    Kachalla Bukar is the secretary of the Forum of Parents of the missing Dapchi Girls. He  had a good time with the insurgents when they came to Dapchi and  dropped  off the girls including his daughter, Aisha.

    He told our correspondent that from the kind of confidence and the weapons he saw the Boko Haram insurgent carried in their vehicles, he is convinced that nobody can stop them to go anywhere they want to go, adding that, “in fact they can even enter Damaturu and abduct girls in any school they want to”.

    On whether he is contemplating of hiding to the advice of Boko Haram to keep his daughter at home, Kachalla said, “We cannot send them to that particular school. It’s not safe for us to keep them at home either. There is no security in that school. i can send her to either school in Nguru or Maiduguri or any other state apart from Yobe because,  I have confidence that those guys can come to Damaturu and abduct girls if they want to. I feel that Nguru is safer because there is a barrack there and it has only one road and plenty river unlike Damaturu and  Potiskum that are so porous. There are many roads in Damaturu that Boko Haram will follow and you will not catch them”.

    Asked if Government secure the school in Dapchi and makes it safe for the students to return, Kachalla answered, “were they not asked to leave when Boko Haram came?, how will I trust this knid of people again. The same way they left is the same way they will still leave when Boko Haram will come again”.

    The story of Adamu Jumbam has no excitement. While the people were rejoicing for the safe return of their daughters, his head was down in grief with many unanswered questions on his mind when this reporter visited his house.

    The women were so distraught to speak with the press summoned courage amidst his grief to narrates how sad he felt when it was confirmed that his daughter died during the abduction.

    “I was troubled when other girls were seen on arrival but my daughter Aisha was said to have died along with four others on the day of their abduction. All the same, I thank Almighty Allah for this and prayed for the repose their soul. We can say the government has tried”.

    Having submitted to the will of God for the death of his daughter Jumbam asked a fundamental question as to the operations of the insurgents in the entire events that played out.

     “The surprising thing is that Boko Haram abducted these girls and still returned then in the heart of the town in  broad day light and went  back freely is absolutely amazing. This troubles our imagination.  How will Boko Haram abducted these teenagers over one month, returned them and nothing was done to them?,” he asked.

    Jumbam also added, “We might be regarded as villagers but it’s surprising to us and I wish to say without mincing words that we have been cheated. If government is serious we need to see her seriousness with this abduction saga. But if they feel we are not Nigerians then let it be,” he concluded as he tried to fight back tears from his eyes.

    Fatima Abdullahi, the mother of Fatima Abdullahi said she did not go school herself but she can never compromise the education of her daughter.

    “Myself didn’t go to school but I know that education is very important for now. It is not possible for somebody to stop the education of my daughter except God says so. What Boko Haram is saying is not possible for us to follow. Our children will continue to go to school. Islam does not forbid knowledge”, Fatima said.

    Like Kachalla, Fatima said her daughter will no longer school in Dapchi but she won’t be against any change of school for her.

    “We cannot say now because our children are not in our custody but in the custody of the government, but like I said my daughter will go to school even if government decide to return her back to me but not this school in Dapchi because we cannot have any rest of mind if our children are in that school,”.

    The growing fear of a possible reopening of Government Girls Science Technical College has continue to burden the minds of the residents and parents especially recasting the mental picture of what they saw on Monday February 19th 2018.

    Faiza Mohammed, one of the girls who escaped Boko Haram onslaught at the school on that ill-fated day had told this reporter that  she will not go back to the  school except the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai is the gateman of the school.

    Faiza statement underscored the need for authorities to beef up security in the school so as to build confidence both among the students and parents who are at the moment apprehensive of the renewed attacks on schools.

    In an attempt to ensure the students don’t miss their examinations especially the Senior Secondary III, the school management has relocated all them to Government Girls College Nguru to prepare for their certificate examination.

    A short statement signed by the school management of GGSTC Dapchi reads: “This is to inform the general public that GGSTC Dapchi SS3 students are hereby called to resume back to GG Nguru, on Monday 25/03/2018 in preparation for WAEC Examinations commencing 3/4/2018”.

    Read Also: Boko Haram and the Dapchi school girls’ abduction

     

  • Aisha Wakil rejoices over release of Dapchi girls

    A human right activist, Mrs Aisha Wakil, on Wednesday expressed joy over the release of the Dapchi school girls from Boko Haram captivity.

    The News men reports the Federal Government announced the release of the girls abducted by the insurgents at Government Science and Technical School, Dapchi on February 19.

    The insurgents transported the girls back to Dapchi in the early hours of today.

    Wakil, popularly called “Mama Boko Haram”, who appeared highly elated, told the News men that she received the news of the release of the girls with “great joy.”

    She commanded the Federal Government and other parties who contributed to the development, and expressed the hope that the remaining girls including Chibok girls would also be released soon.

    “I am highly elated over the release of the girls, it is a welcome development,” she said.

    The News men  report Wakil had earlier indicated interest to work towards the release of the abducted girls.

    Also, Malam Bashir Manzo, the Chairman, Parents Association of the Dapchi Abducted Girls, said that they were happy over the development.

    Read Also: Aisha Wakil: complex lingo of the mother hen 

    Manzo disclosed that they were currently taking head count of the girls, adding most of them had returned to their homes.

    Similarly, Mr Maina Musa and Ayuba Alamson, parents of abducted Chibok school girls, expressed joy over the development.

    They, however, tasked the government to secure the release of the remaining school girls in insurgents’ captivity.

    “It is disheartening on our part to see that our remaining children are still languishing in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents in the past four years,” Alamson said.

    Alamson noted that over 100 Chibok girls were in Boko Haram captivity since 2014.

    He called on the international community to support the Federal Government secure release of the girls and others still in captivity.

    The News men  reports also that representatives of the Chibok Parents Association had this morning paid a solidarity visit to Dapchi, to rejoice with the affected families.

    NAN

  • NCWS urges govt to urgently rescue Dapchi school girls

    NCWS urges govt to urgently rescue Dapchi school girls

    The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) has urged the Federal Government to urgently rescue the abducted Government Girls Science and Technical College Dapchi, Yobe State by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

    The President of NCWS, Mrs Gloria Laraba Shoda, in a statement, said the abduction was a national embarrassment.

    She advised President Muhammadu Buhari to act quickly to avoid a repeat of what happened to the Chibok School girls.

    Mrs Shoda said: ‘’We are pained as mothers to see another group of our children been abducted by the sect. it is most unfortunate that it is happening again after the Chibok experience.

    ‘’We are yet to overcome the Chibok abduction and having another is a very sad happenings in our lives as mothers. How long are we going to continue living in fear of our children been abducted by the sect.

    ‘’We need the Federal Government and the security agencies to do all it can in the shortest possible time to rescue our daughters. We will not fold our hands to watch the sect destroyed the lives of our daughters.”

    Shoda also urged the federal and state governments to prioritise security of schools to stem further attacks on them by insurgents.

    Shoda called on all Nigerian women and mothers to pray for the save return of the girls.

     

  • CAN warns Pastors against praying for human traffickers

    CAN warns Pastors against praying for human traffickers

    Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned Pastor’s to desist from offering prayers for human traffickers and their victims.

    The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II had last week said it was regrettable that some church leaders in the state encouraged human trafficking and illegal migration in the country.

    Oba Ewuare II also called on church leaders to help discourage illegal migration and trafficking of the youths as reports showed that some church leaders were encouraging it.

    Addressing journalists Monday, Chairman of CAN, Bishop Oyenude Kure, said the Bible preached against human trafficking and as such pastors that prays for traffickers to succeed are fake.

    Bishop Kure who condemned the action of pastors supporting human trafficking urged them to repent of their sins or face will face the wrath of God.

    He stated that the action of such pastors was worrisome and declared that any Pastor involved in the act either through prayers or directly as an enemy of the church.

    Kure disclosed of plans by CAN to on the 18th of May pray for Edo State and the country especially for the release of Dapchi school girls.

    The Christian body also condemned killings by Fulani herdsmen and urged government to establish cattle ranches rather than cattle colonies.

    Bishop Kure said CAN will resist any attempt to establish cattle colonies in Edo state.

    On the coming 2019 general elections, Bishop Kure admonished Christians in the state ‘to get their PVCs. If you have not done that we are asking you to do that. We are also saying that all Christians should go and join political parties of their own choice so that we will be involved in the political destiny of our state and nation. So that we can move our nation forward.”

    Read Also: CAN: abduction a national disgrace