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Tag: Dapchi Schoolgirls

  • Dapchi schoolgirls: David Bako fake soldier, no conspiracy anywhere – Lai Mohammed

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has debunked stories in the social media alleging a top level conspiracy that stage-managed the abduction of Dapchi schoolgirls on 19 February and also declaring a certain Sergeant David Bako allegedly spreading the rumours as unknown to the army.

    Mohammed spoke in Lagos today in response alleged news in social media since the abduction and return of scores of Dapchi schoolgirls by Boko Haram insurgents that the abduction as planned.

    “I can tell you categorically that this David Bako is fake. There is no such soldier in the Nigerian Army. There was no conspiracy anywhere. The intention of those behind the disinformation and fake news is to cause disaffection between Christians and Muslims, and between Southerners and Northerners,” Mohammed said.

    “This Administration’s success in seeking an early release of the Dapchi girls has ruffled many feathers. It has upturned a lot of plans by naysayers. They have not been able to sleep since the girls came back. Their campaign to unseat President Buhari is fuelling their desperation. Nigerians should prepare to see more avalanche of disinformation and fake news. But they should not lend any credibility to such reports. They belong to the trash can!”

    The minister restated that the schoolgirls were freed as a result of intense backchannel engagement with Boko Haram.

    “This was done in concert with a friendly country, international organization and trusted facilitators, he said.

    111 schoolgirls, pure water seller and primary school girl captured

    ” A total of 111 girls were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary and Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi on 19 Feb. 2018. That means one student was not captured on the list of 110 abducted students that was compiled by the school, on the basis of which the Federal Government gave the number of abducted schoolgirls as 110.

    “Also kidnapped were two other persons, who are not students of the college. They include a primary school boy who came to the school to sell pure water and another primary school girl. That brings the total number of abducted persons on that day to 113.

    “So far, a total of 107 persons, comprising 105 Dapchi schoolgirls and the two non-students, have been released by the insurgents.

    “Six Dapchi schoolgirls are yet unaccounted for. All efforts will be made to secure their release

    “As I have said at many fora, we neither paid ransom nor swapped any Boko Haram member to secure the release of the girls. This is a fact, irrespective of how a section of the press has tried to spin the story.

    “The insurgents brought the girls back to the location of the kidnapping themselves as an apparent gesture of goodwill, following relentless efforts by the Government to find long-lasting solutions to the conflict.

    “Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed all security agencies to do everything possible to bring the girls back unharmed. That dictated the method we adopted. Back-channel talks with our international friends as mediators, and the result was the release of the girls

    “Unknown to many, we have been in wider cessation-of-hostility talks with the insurgents for some time now. The talks helped to secure the release of the police officers’ wives and the University of Maiduguri lecturers recently. And the talks did not stop thereafter.

    “Therefore, we were able to leverage on the wider talks when the Dapchi girls were abducted. As I said earlier, the insurgents decided to return the girls to where they picked them from as a goodwill gesture. All they demanded was a ceasefire that will grant them a safe corridor to drop the girls. This is not new. Even in larger war situations, safe corridors are usually created for humanitarian and other purposes. Consequently, a week-long ceasefire was declared, starting from Monday, 19 March. That is why the insurgents were able to drop the girls. This counters the conspiracy theories being propounded in some quarters concerning why it was so easy for the insurgents to drop off the girls without being attacked by the military.

    WHY THE GIRLS WERE FREED EARLY
    “As I have said time and again, there is no government that will not face tragedies. What makes the difference is how such tragedies are managed.

    “President Buhari put this in perspective when he said the response of his Administration is a marked departure from the attitude of the preceding administration in the aftermath of the kidnap of the 276 Chibok girls in 2014

    “Whereas it took that administration 18 days to even acknowledge the kidnap of the girls, the current administration was responsive and was not in denial. No stone was left unturned to secure the release of the girls. For the record, the following actions were taken:

    “The President sent FG’s delegation twice to Dapchi and Damaturu, within four days, to engage in fact-finding and to condole with the government and people of Yobe State and the families of the abducted girls. I was on both delegations.

    “The President ordered the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take direct charge and brief him on a daily basis on the efforts to bring back the girls.

    ” The President ordered the re-strengthening of a Joint Operational Base involving relevant agencies and Services to coordinate the rescue mission. Consequently, the Service Commanders established a unified Command Centre in Maiduguri, and the Military also raised several rescue teams to comb the forests in the North East Theatre of Operation.

    ” The Nigerian Air Force maintained aerial surveillance of the area all through.

    It was not a surprise, therefore, that this abduction ended about a month after it occurred, and that most of the girls are free.

    THE REACTION OF NAYSAYERS

    You are not unaware of the reaction of the naysayers – the main opposition PDP in particular – to the release of the Dapchi girls. What called for non-partisan celebrations was rather thoughtlessly turned into politics, bad, despicable politics that has no place in any democracy. At times of national tragedies, countries unite. This is the norm everywhere.

    Let me encapsulate my reaction to the disgraceful and insensitive politics, that the PDP has been playing with the Dapchi girls, by quoting the statement of the President when he received the Dapchi girls last Friday: ”May I also warn against those elements who have chosen to make political fortune of our citizens’ misfortune. Government would not tolerate any attempt by any person or group to trivialise or politicise security issues for politically motivated ends. Accordingly, security agencies would not hesitate to decisively deal with such unscrupulous characters.” Those are very clear words that need no elaboration.

    “The PDP and its co-travelers do not understand that terrorism is a global problem. A terror attack on any country is an attack on all countries. The UN was among the first international organizations to condemn the abduction of the Dapchi girls and also among the first to welcome their release.

    “Perhaps we should ask the PDP what indeed the party knows about the abduction of the Dapchi girls, going by its statement that their abduction and release were stage-managed. The party made itself a laughing stock within and outside Nigeria with that statement. Don’t they know that our international friends are involved in the process that led to the release of the girls? Indeed, there should be a new criterion for withdrawing the registration of a party like the PDP which has failed both as a ruling and an opposition party! If a party cannot rule and cannot be in opposition, what else can it do?

    “We thank all Nigerians for their support and prayers. We are grateful for their belief in the ability of this government to secure an early release of the girls. We will continue with the ongoing efforts to account for the remaining six Dapchi girls, and indeed to bring back our remaining Chibok girls.

    “In the words of Mr. President, this Administration remains committed to the fight against terrorism and insurgency. The security services have since been directed to put in place further measures around all schools vulnerable to attacks to ensure the safety of pupils/students and teachers and school workers. The President has also tasked all the security agencies to work to ensure that we do not witness any recurrence of these incidents.

    “Let me emphasize the government’s position that while the military efforts are necessarily ongoing, we are willing to continue engaging in a meaningful dialogue which is not only about the release of hostages, but intended at a broader engagement on conflict mitigation (reduction of the violence, possibility of ceasefire, protection of civilians, increased humanitarian access). Government is therefore willing to engage on measures which can lead to stopping the bloodshed and finding long-lasting solutions to the conflict.

    “We appeal for non-partisanship on the issue of security. We all have to be safe and alive before we can even belong to any political party. And whether you are in government or in opposition, Nigeria belongs to all of us.

    “We appeal to the media to be more discerning in disseminating materials that serve no other purpose than to sabotage the ongoing efforts to end the insurgency and secure the release of the remaining Chibok and Dapchi girls. Obviously, the naysayers are growing more desperate and will stop at nothing, including disinformation and fake news, to muddle the waters”.

  • ‘Dapchi schoolgirls’ release is cheery news’

    A member of Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has said the release of abducted Dapchi schoolgirls by Boko Haram insurgents is cheery news for Nigerians.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, the lawmaker noted that the determination and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to the rescue of the abducted girls were commendable.

    He said Federal Government’s and the security operatives’ response to the release of the abducted girls demonstrated the honesty of the Buhari administration.

    Oyintiloye (APC Obokun) said the release of the abducted girls was cheery news to the nation.

    He added: “The release of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls is cheery news. The Federal Government must be commended for this effort.

    “The release of the girls has redeemed our image as a nation and demonstrated President Buhari’s determination to secure the lives of Nigerians.”

    Oyintiloye, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Strategy, urged the government to ensure the release of the remaining girls as well as Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted in 2014.

    The lawmaker also urged the Federal Government to provide tight security in schools to prevent another incident.

     

  • ‘Govt to punish negligent officials in Dapchi schoolgirls’ abduction’

    President Mohammadu Buhari yesterday assured parents of the abducted girls that he won’t rest until the last girl is freed from captivity. He also promised to punish “any agency”, person or group found to have been negligent or culpable in the girls’ abduction.

    The President spoke in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, at a meeting with stakeholders to commiserate with them over the abduction of the 110 girls from GGSTC, Dapchi.

    He reiterated his commitment to negotiations with the terrorists to release all the girls whether they are from Dapchi or Chibok.

    The presidential jet landed at the Maiduguri International Airport at about 11.01 am.

    The President was received by Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno and the Service Chiefs.

    Others were the ministers of Education; Youth and Sports, Interior, and Information and Culture, Mr Adamu Adamu, Solomon Dalung, Abdulrahman Dambazau and Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    The President, accompanied by top government functionaries, boarded a chopper to Damaturu.

    He said at the meeting: “There will be no rest until the last girl, whether from Chibok or Dapchi, is released. The girls and all our students must enjoy unhindered freedom and pursue their legitimate aspirations. The Dapchi and Chibok students are our girls and must enjoy our protection. They must live to achieve their individual ambition to be great women of tomorrow. It is our duty to protect them and we are determined to restore peace to all parts of the country from the west to the east, north to the south.”

    The President, who described the abduction as “careless”, stressed:  ”It is my hope that any agency, person or group  found to have been negligent or culpable in the abduction of the girls will be punished according to the law”.

    President Buhari noted the renewed commitment of the Federal Government to exterminate terror and restore peace in all parts of the country, saying his administration had equipped the armed forces enough. “The outcomes have been good,” he added.

    He said: “Since the inception of this administration, we have remained resolute in our fight against terrorism and Boko Haram insurgents.  Nigerians will readily recall that prior to our coming in 2015, the situation was chaotic, with violent terrorist attacks being the order of the day.

    “Terrorists had made life very unbearable for the people in Yobe, Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Niger, and even the FCT, Abuja.  Our mosques and churches witnessed daily suicide bomb attacks.  Parts of Adamawa and Borno states were helplessly ceded to the terrorists.

    “But today, we have so far shown clear determination in tackling terrorism, which is a world -wide phenomenon. We have not only degraded the power and dominance of the criminal elements, our security forces have patriotically exhibited an uncommon zeal in executing their assignment.”

    “We explored various strategies including regional and international collaborations, to exterminate terror.  We have re-equipped our armed forces, security and intelligence Services.  They are empowered with improved welfare and better equipment.  The outcomes have been good.  Our achievement in maintaining security is such that the international community and even our critics commend our modest efforts in this regard,” the President  said.

    President Buhari said he had demanded daily briefing from the security agencies on the success and challenges of the rescue team, adding that with the recent release of University of Maiduguri lecturers and others, there was no doubt that the Dapchi girls would be released.

    He added: “You may recall that recently, our negotiation efforts led to the release of abducted University of Maiduguri lecturers, some women police personnel, students and even an NYSC member.  We, therefore, have no doubt that the Dapchi girls will be rescued or released. I can reassure parents, Nigerians and the International Community that we will do all that is within our power to make sure that the girls are brought back safely to their families.

    “I have ordered a 24-hour brief to me by security agencies on their successes or challenges.  While expecting the report of the committee set up to investigate the abduction for implementation, I have asked that appropriate Federal Government authorities be in constant touch with the Yobe State Government and other neighbouring states to ensure a common strategy and line of action.”

    He said his administration’s commitment to the rescue of the Dapchi girls “is a clear departure from the insensitivity of the past administration which looked the other way while the Chibok girls were taken away in 2014 and held in captivity for over three years”.

    “Due to our commitment, over 100 Chibok girls have been rescued and reunited with their families, sent back to school and empowered with requisite skills,” Buhari said.

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam praised the efforts of the Federal Government so far in trying to rescue the girls, saying he was pleased with the swift deployment of troops to Dapchi and the realignment of security check points at schools to respond to any threat.

    He called for intelligence gathering and better synergy among security operatives to rout out the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents.

    The meeting was attended by stakeholders, including traditional rulers. No parent or any other person spoke at the parley, except the Emir of Fika who welcomed the President in his capacity as the Chairman Yobe State Council of Chiefs.

  • Our pains, by 110 abducted Dapchi schoolgirls’ parents

    Our pains, by 110 abducted Dapchi schoolgirls’ parents

    Parents of some of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls wept yesterday as they staged a protest in front of the National Assembly in Abuja to draw attention to their plight.

    They urged the government to do everything possible to bring back the 110 pupils of the Government Girls Technical Science School, Dapchi, who were abducted on February 19.

    One of the parents, Yahaya Taributu, whose three daughters are among those abducted, said laxity of security officials and incompetence created room for the abduction.

    Wondering why troops were withdrawn from  Dapchi 21 days before the abduction, Taributu said: “Government should go and bring back our daughters.

    “We don’t know why government had to withdraw the soldiers, but we believe that government knows better. We cannot, and will not rest, over this matter, until we meet four eyes with our daughters”.

    The parents carried placards with various inscriptions to denounce the abduction and the government’s failure to take action immediately to stop the terrorists. They wore black shirts with the inscription, “We are Dapchi People.”,

    They alleged that since the abduction of their children, there had been no contact with them by government officials.

    A mother, Aisha Alhaji Bukar, who kept weeping, said her daughter’s absence had made her sorrowful.

    Another, Aisha Kundili Bukar and Adamu Gashuama, a father, said there was no visible security in the town.

    “Even now, if you go to Dapchi now, you can carry mothers, fathers and all their children into captivity unchallenged. Dapchi is not safe,” Hajiya Bukar said.

    The Senate and the House of Representatives debated the Dapchi abduction yesterday and came up with resolutions.

    The House of Representatives called on the Federal Government  to rescue the girls promptly.

    The lawmakers arrived at the resolution after a long deliberation on this year’s International Women’s Day, through a motion brought by Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Stella Ngwu (PDP Enugu) urging the Federal Government  to secure freedom for all kidnapped school girls.

    They also enjoined the authorities to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls and provide security for school children and women.

    Lawmakers, such as Lynda Ikpeazu, PDP, Anambra; Aisha Dukku, APC, Gombe; Garba Tchede, APC, Taraba; and Gudaji Kazaure, APC, Jigawa, called on the government to provide a legal framework for gender parity and support women in their quest for gender mainstreaming.

    The Senate summoned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr Ibrahim Idris and Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, who are to brief the Joint Committees on Police Affairs, Security and Intelligence and on operational strategies to rescue the abducted school girls.

    The resolutions followed a motion moved by Sen. Binta Garba (APC, Adamawa State) during plenary.

    •Taributu, whose three kids were abducted (second right) and other parents during the protest...yesterdayPhotoS: Abayomi Fayese
    •Taributu, whose three kids were abducted (second right) and other parents during the protest…yesterday PhotoS: Abayomi Fayese

    The motion, which was read by Deputy Minority Whip Biodun Olujimi on behalf of Garba, was in commemoration of the International Women’s Day.

    She said: “The implementation of policies that prohibit violence against women and girls and promote girl-child education is still very poor.

    “Practices, such as violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking, sexual and other types of exploitation, early child and forced marriage, female genital mutilation are still being practised.

    “A pattern is gradually being established which clearly indicates that the objectives of the Boko Haram Insurgents is to deprive young girls of school age from pursuing education.”

    In Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, agreed that women needed to be celebrated due to their unique accomplishments in all facets of life.

    Also yesterday, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations, including the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution (CDNCD) and Our Mumu Don Do Movement, called on the National Assembly to probe the abduction.

    “As representatives of the people, the time has come for the National Assembly to take every action that can spur the executive  and the nation to act.

    “The National Assembly is invited to conduct a powerful investigation to unravel whatever conspiracy has been alleged so far, and the circumstances surrounding how over hundred girls will be kidnapped in a ‘war zone’ without them being spotted, or meeting police/ military check point.,” the coalition said in a statement by Ariyo- Dare Aroye and Raphael Adebayo, who represented the CSOs.

  • Aregbesola, Osinbajo’s wife, others pray for safe return of abducted Dapchi schoolgirls

    Aregbesola, Osinbajo’s wife, others pray for safe return of abducted Dapchi schoolgirls

    •Officials’ wives conference opens

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has urged Nigerians to pray for the safe return of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls who were abducted in Yobe State recently.

    Also, the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, noted that the virtues of motherhood had declined.

    She said those who abducted the girls were born by women, have sisters and probably have daughters too.

    Aregbesola spoke at the opening of a two-day conference of Osun Officials’ Wives Association (OSUNOWA), with the theme: Virtuous Woman: Pushing for Greater Development.

    The governor urged the participants to pray to God to touch the hearts of the abductors to release the girls and others in their captivity.

    He said: “I want to use the opportunity of this gathering, being a gathering of mostly women, to ask that we all pray for the safe return of some girls who are supposed to be in school but were kidnapped by some criminals in the northern part of our country.

    “Let us pray for the safety of the girls and their return. We should all, as women and Nigerians, pray to God to touch the hearts of the criminals to hasten the release of those innocent girls and those with same experience.”

    Aregbesola described the abductors as cowards.

    To the women, the governor said: “Don’t fail to let your conference address the issue of those cowards who kidnapped our girls. Tell them in your resolutions that if they are not cowards, they should stop denying innocent girls their freedom but face soldiers in the region for peace keeping.”

    He noted that ?women are central to life as guarantors and caretakers of the human race.

    Aregbesola said nature has made women to be the stronger gender from the biological point of view.

    Mrs Osinbajo, who was the Mother of The Day, hailed the government for developing infrastructure across Osun State.

    ?The Vice-President’s wife noted that the theme of the Conference is apt and carefully selected, saying every woman must assess herself to see that she is pushing for greater development.

    She urged the participants to be fully involved in the presentations and other programmes that have been scheduled for the conference.

    Mrs Osinbajo said: “The challenges we face as a nation is a product of the negligence of our civic responsibilities as women and mothers. What is development today may not be development tomorrow. That is why we need greater development.

    “We need to assess ourselves as individuals, women, mothers and wives? of government officials, particularly on the need to impact on our collective lives and in the lives of other people.”

    The wife of Osun State governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, said the conference was borne out of the concern to extend the frontiers of human development.

    She said the conference would be a forum where government ?officials’ wives would be further retooled and equipped with extant and emerging knowledge on various aspects of life.

    She said: “Our development focus will embrace training in skills and economic empowerment, creation of awareness and intervention in critical health-related issues, civic and development policy advocacy, among others.

    “Similar associations have attained a lot of mileage in our sister-states. We are happy to note that recently Ondo State inaugurated its own association. This is a good development, which promises to create a stronger bond and enhance integration among women in the Southwest.”

    ?Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi hailed the virtuous women among the wives of leaders.

    The governor noted that most politicians and leaders would have misbehaved if they were not blessed with virtuous women as wives?.

    He said: “A virtuous woman is someone who is foresighted and noble. A virtuous woman, therefore, plays a major role in development. I, therefore, congratulate the wife of Osun State governor for bringing up this programme.”

    Other dignitaries at the programme included the wives of Ekiti, Lagos and Oyo state governors, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose, Mrs Bolanle Ambode and Mrs. Florence Ajimobi.

    Others included the Secretary to the Governments of Osun and Oyo states, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and Mr. Olalekan Alli as well as the Chief of Staff to Osun State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola.

     

     

  • CSO Hails Quick Rescue Of Abducted Dapchi Schoolgirls 

    A group of Civil Society groups under the auspices of Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Transparency and fGood Governance, has commended the quick intervention of the Nigerian military in the abduction of over 94 schoolgirl from their school in Dapchi, Yobe state which led to their immediate rescue.
    The group said as compared to the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls where the then government showed laxity in accepting that the girls were missing, the swift response of President Muhammadu Buhari and the military have ensured there was no hiding place for the abductors.
    Addressing journalists in Abuja, national president of the coalition, Patriot Sabo Odeh described those behind the abduction as “political Boko Haram” who hope to make political gains from the abduction of the girls.
    He therefore urged the military to be more vigilant, adding that the incident has proven that those benefitting from Boko Haram insurgency are yet to give up on their trade.
    He described the abduction as an attempt by Boko Haram to relaunch itself. He however said Nigeria as a country must at this point respond to the terror group with disproportionate force
    He said, “the attack on GGSTC Dapchi and the abduction of the girls is eerily similar to the abduction of the Chibok Girls in April of 2014, both being under one year to General Elections. It is however reassuring that the only similarity the two ugly incidents share is the timing.
    “In terms of response, the dispatch with which the government at all levels and the Nigerian Army responded is remarkable. It is also noteworthy that stakeholders have been focused on solutions as opposed to engaging in blame trading.”
    He appealled to all the relevant stakeholders to further intensify efforts at safely bringing back home the remaining girls in the coming hours so that their families can find relief.
    He said,  “We further appeal to anyone with information that will assist in locating the girls not to delay in sharing same with the military and security services.
    “The expectation is that contractor activists and political jobbers will not exploit the situation of these families to their own selfish ends as was the case in the past. Nigerians should pray for these families and for the immediate return of the girls.
    “We however want to task the government, the Nigerian Army with the other services of the military and the other security agencies to dispose of all niceties and crush all the remnants of the terrorist group without mercy.”