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Tag: Kashim Shettima

  • There are economically-induced Boko Haram members, says Shettima

    There are economically-induced Boko Haram members, says Shettima

    Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State yesterday said there are economically-induced Boko Haram members.

    He also said military campaign alone cannot curtail the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the nation.

    He suggested a combination of military, socio-political, and economic solutions and that no solution can be effective without the others.

    Shettima made the submissions at Ogbeh Farms in Kuje District of Abuja during a farewell session for 50 indigenes of the state going for training in India.

    The farms is owned by former National Chairman of PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh. Ogbeh is an honorary adviser on Agriculture to Governor Shettima.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication, Alhaji Isa Gusau, quoted the governor as saying:  “The Borno Government has since discovered that in addition to misguided beliefs, Boko Haram insurgents have over the years been recruiting foot soldiers who they pay salaries as a result of joblessness, hopelessness and extreme poverty. This condition can be addressed with massive investment in agriculture.

    “Besides those driven by spiritual motives, there is also the economically induced Boko Haram. This can be seen where some youths were paid as low as N5, 000 to burn schools and spy on our security men.

    “So that goes to show that Boko Haram is not only propelled by evil spiritual motive but also by economic motives”.

    The Governor said  ” Boko Haram can best be curtailed through a combination of Military socio-political and economic solutions, maintaining that none can be effective without the others,” and pledged that  the State will continue to support the military and volunteers as a coercive unit, focus must also be accorded to social re-orientation to de-radicalize citizens as well as provide jobs for majority of them.

    He said the candidates would undergo a three-week train-the-trainers course on irrigation equipment installation, effective utilization and maintenance after which they will train farmers across the state.

    He said in addition to Indian irrigation equipment, an American company from Nebraska State is installing 50 units of centre pivot and sprinkler irrigation equipment along Maiduguri -Konduga farm areas as a pilot program.

    Four hundred  units of such equipment from U.S, India and China are expected for installation across private farms in the state in order to “revolutionize agriculture and create millions of jobs so that Boko Haram wouldn’t find easy recruits as they have been enjoying.”

    In his remarks, Ogbeh called on the trainees to heed to the lessons they will learn in India.

    He praised governor for his steadfastness in developing knowledge based Agriculture in Borno State.

    He said the opportunity provided by the governor was one that had become really revolutionary.

     

  • Parents identify 77 girls in Boko Haram video

    Parents identify 77 girls in Boko Haram video

    Govt considers talks with sect

    U.S. planes on surveillance

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said yesterday that 77 girls had been identified in the video clip released by Boko Haram on Monday.

    The girls were identified during a verification conducted with some parents of the abducted girls, some teachers, security men and some officials of the Borno State Government led by the Chief of Staff in the Government House, Abubakar Kyari.

    The verification was conducted twice in Chibok and at the Government House in Maiduguri.

    The 267 girls were abducted in Chibok, Borno State on April 15.

    The clarifications were made in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication, Alhaji Isa Gusau. He said  the verification would be continue throughout last night.

    He initially released the names of 54 of the girls after being identified by their parents.

    The governor’s spokesman later announced that 23 more girls had been identified.

    The statement he issued before he gave the additional figure, said: “The Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has confirmed that young girls shown in a video released by the Boko Haram sect are part of schoolgirls abducted at Government Secondary School, Chibok, following a night attack on April 14,2014.

    “Fifty four of the girls of the video have been identified by their names at an exercise that involved some parents of the girls, fellow students that include escapees from abduction, some teachers, security men and some officials of the Borno State Government, led by the Chief of Staff to the Government House, Abubakar Kyari.

    “The parents and students were conveyed to the Government House in Maiduguri to make for an open identification exercise.

    “Governor Shettima announced this in Abuja today during a news conference held after a peaceful procession by coalition of civil society bodies and activists under the Bring Back Our Girls initiative in Abuja.

    “ Shettima said the figures of those identified by their names were climbing as the exercise went on at the Government House in Maiduguri. He was briefed every 30 minutes.

    “ Initially, while he was addressing the BBOG group, 36 names had been identified but before his briefing an hour later, the number had climbed to 54, which he then told reporters.

    “Shettima had on Monday directed the identification to be conducted. Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area and other government officials were made to mass produce the video and play before parents of the abducted girls, other students, especially those who escaped from captivity, teachers and management of the school as well as other community members in Chibok.

    “But after the exercise in Chibok, Governor Shettima directed for another round of verification to be conducted at the Government House in order to cross check findings so as not to mislead the public.

    “The second exercise confirmed the preliminary exercise in Chibok.

    The following names of schoolgirls have been established from the video. They are:

    1. Agnes Gafane 2. Saraya Stober ; 3. Hauwa Bitrus 4. Hajara Isa; 5. Na’omi Philimun

    6. Hauwa Abdu (1st Speaking) ;7. Magret Yama ; 8. Shitta Abdu ; 9. Jummai Muta 10.Ladi Paul ;11. Roda Peter ;12. Filo Dauda ;13. Godiya Bitrus ;14. Saratu Tauji (2nd Speaking) ;15. Ross Daniel ; 16.Hauwa Ali ;17. Hajara Isa (Amira 3rd Speaking) ;18.Luba Afga ;19.Na’omi Luka ;20. Saraya Emos Ali ; 21. Bilkisu Abdullahi ;22. Mairama Ali ; 23. Maryam Ali Maiyanga ;24. Dabora Abbas; 25. Kabu Mala ; 26. Halima Ali ; 27. Yana Bukar ; 28. Solomi Pugu ; 29. Lydia Emmar ; 30. Luba Sanda ; 31. Saraya Samuel ; 32. Comfort Habila ; 33. Rejoice Shanki ; 34. Gloria Yaga ; 35. Mary Nkeki ; 36. Moda Baba ; 37. Hauwa Isuwa ; 38. Patient Jacob ;39. Ladi Jajel ; 40. Abigel Bukar 41. Fanta Lawan ; 42. Zainabu Yaga ; 43. Aisha Lawan Zanna ; 44. Dokas Yakubu; 45. Kabu Mala ; 46. Maryama Bashir ; 47. Hauwa M. Maina ; 48. Mary G. Dauda ;49. Susana Yakubu ; 50. Maryam Abbas ; 51. Laraba John ; 52. Hanatu Nuhu ;53. Na’ omi and Bukar 54. Rifkatu Galang

    “The names are currently being compared with school records as well as names published some days back to ensure accuracy.

    “The exercise continues at the Government House and it is hoped that more names will be established by parents, students and teachers as well as management of the affected school.”

     

  • My testimony on the girls’ abduction, by Shettima

    My testimony on the girls’ abduction, by Shettima

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima spoke yesterday on the abduction of the Chibok girls, the insurgency in his state and his efforts at restoring peace.

    He also chided the Federal Government.

    Shettima spoke while receiving the Citizens Group – which has been protesting against the abduction of the girls in Abuja.

    The protest was taken to the Borno State Governor’s Lodge.

    Shettima, who received the protesters said: “When that video became public, this gentleman made copies of them and we directed the local government chairman to summon some of the parents in Chibok to come and identify their wards. So far, they were able to identify 54 students by name and they were very sure that all the girls were students of the school.

    “I am a leader who is ready to accept resoponsibility for my actions and inactions. I don’t want to say so much in order not to scandalise federal authorities.

    “After bringing back our girls alive, we can open the can of worms, we can tell you who and who are privy to information and I can even give you the time, but I am a leader I am not supposed to overheat the polity; I am to partner to see that we bring back our girls alive.

    “Leadership calls for respect otherwise, believe me, I know a lot but I have to restrain myself from speaking  too much because discretion is the better part of dialogue. Believe me, if I am to speak, a lot of heads will roll.

    “I will speak at the appropriate time. This country, ladies and gentlemen, belongs to all of us and we have to do whatever it takes to protect it.

    “By overheating the polity, I am not adding any value to the system, hence it will result to something worse. We will allow others to do the talking…comment is free but facts are sacred and that is why I am not bothered about the insinuations and accusations because they cannot stand the test of empirical verification.

    “All the girls in that video were identified to be students of Government Secondary School, Chibok and 54 of them were identified by names by their parents. Once they see a face that is familiar, they identify.

    “The students from Chibok; we were able to get 53 of those students. Some of them fell off the vehicles; quite a number of them escaped from the hands of the insurgents; nobody rescued them, and they rescued themselves.

    “Testimonies of our girls revealed that some of them were asked to cook. Some were asked to go and fetch water from the river and they ran away.

    “We are giving the girls counseling. We moved them over with the help of the Nigerian Armed Forces and they are completing their exams today, the SSCE. They will go on a two-week break. For the NECO, we are bringing them down to Maiduguri and we are going to keep them in the most secured of locations in Maiduguri for them to sit for their exam.

    “When the incident happened, my wife and I went to Chibok. It was after the international outcry that the Federal Government decided to give it attention; 19 days after the incident. I believe that if people are going to be fair to us, they will tell us that we have exhibited a lot of sympathy and support for the people of Chibok.

    “Chibok is a community that I have personal likeness for, you can ask any Chibok person.”

    Shettima spoke also on civil-military relationship, saying “without the relationship, the modest accomplishment that we were able to record in this counter insurgency period would not have come to fruition”. “The military and the civilians had a rough beginning.

    “We were able to establish a rapport and that led to the creation of JTF. The JTF is a salutary effort. The JTF transformed into Borno Youth and Economic Empowerment. We are paying them N15,000 for community policing and they work hand-in-hand with the military. They help us with information gathering and they really guide the military in going to places because they are sons of the soil.

    “If you only have one river from which you are drinking water, you will not dare to poison that water and for that reason, I might withhold some of the information, but believe me, Borno government has over the four years spent over N10billion assisting the security agencies in the state and if anybody says we are not assisting or partnering them, ask that person? Just two months ago, we bought 100 Hilux vehicles for the Nigerian Army at the cost of N500 million. You can go and verify from the Army Headquarters whether we did it or not.

    “For the police, we bought 20 APCs for them and we are the only one in the federation that has done that for them.

    “If anyone says the Borno state government is not partnering with the security agencies, it is just one of those tales by moonlight. They are people that want to divide the society that is together. So, we are solidly behind the military.”

    The governor described Boko Haram’s ideology as “devilish”.

    “They do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion. If they see me or Oby Ezekwesili, they will kill us. They are not intimidated by anybody. The ideology of Boko Hram is very devilish. They don’t discriminate, they are just a bunch of lunatics bent on a suicidal mission and may God crush them for all of us,” he said, adding:

    “They have so far identified 54 of the girls. It is an ongoing process and they might identify more because it is an exercise that is currently going on at the Government House in Maiduguri.

    “The last time, I made a simple remark and it was taken completely out of context, but I was saying this because I am the man on ground and can talk favourably on any issue concerning this issue more than anyone sitting comfortably in an office in Abuja here. I know that the security forces are doing their best under the circumstances they find themselves.

    “What they did was that when the video became public, a gentleman made copies of them and sent to us in Maiduguri. I directed the local government chairman to summon some of the parents to come and identify their wards. They were brought to Maiduguri and so far it is an ongoing exercise, where we have been able to identify 54 students by name and it was identified that all the girls in the video are students of the Government Secondary School Chibok.

    “The Federal Government’s claim about Borno State opening of schools in Maiduguri is absolutely nonsense. The Federal Government Colleges in Maiduguri is right now open with students undergoing their final examinations. Are they not Federal institutions? We are not a unitary state; we are a Federation and if we are to permanently close down our schools, what message are we sending to the world? That Boko Haram has won? We met and discussed at length with WAEC who were subsequently intimidated into withdrawing their wards. I have documentary evidence that WAEC agreed to the examination in Chibok and other communities including Maiduguri, but I don’t want to drag it. The issue now is how to get our daughters back.

    “We know the whereabouts of the girls, in the context of the fact that we are the closest to the people. We have a very robust platform and a security alert system, where we have sensitised the communities about alerting us when they notice unusual movements. I will not go further on the locations of where they were sighted or seen due to security reasons. If I do so, I will compromise the safety of those innocent girls. Anytime we get information and we do get information, we relate it to the relevant quarters for them to investigate further.”

     

  • Borno set to identify girls in video

    Borno set to identify girls in video

    Barely few hours after the release of video clip of abducted 276 girls by Boko Haram, the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, yesterday ordered mass production of the visual for the parents to assess.

    The governor also directed the Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area to show the video clip to distraught parents to ascertain whether the girls were actually the ones.

    These disclosures were made in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media/ Communication, Alhaji Isa Gusau.

    The statement said: “The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima has watched with very keen interest a video clip shown on the BBC world service, said to have been released by members of the Boko Haram sect.

    “Governor Shettima has directed transfer of the video into mobile storage devices under the care of some officials, including the Chairman of Chibok local government area, who have been given an immediate task of showing the videos to parents, some of the freed students who know their abducted colleagues, teachers and management staff of Government Secondary School, Chibok, so that the girls in the video can be identified to ascertain if they are part of the abducted students or otherwise.

    “He is, however, optimistic about the video. Already, some concerned individuals in Maiduguri and Abuja are on the request of the governor, making efforts to contact parents and relations of some of the abducted girls, who might be within reach to get feedback regarding the video.

    “Governor Shettima views the development as encouraging especially given the fact that some of the girls said they were not harmed. The governor hopes that the girls did not speak under duress.

    The governor, however, tasked Borno indigenes not to desist from praying for the release of the girls.

    The statement added: “While awaiting the confirmation, Governor Shettima calls on citizens of Borno State, most of whom commenced another round of fasting today, to seek divine help, in response to appeal by the Governor, to intensify prayers for the safe release of the schoolgirls who are very precious not only to Borno but to the entire world.

    “Shettima expresses appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan for their concerns and concerted efforts towards the release of the schoolgirls. The Governor also expresses appreciation to other Nigerians, world leaders and citizens around the world, whose pressures have been of tremendous help so far.

    “The governor particularly thanks all security agencies and volunteers engaged in search and rescue efforts with an appeal that the efforts are intensified till all the girls safely return home.

    The Governor once again commiserates with families of the abducted girls and assures that the Federal and Borno State Governments with the support of the international community are collaborating towards the freedom of the girls who are also his daughters.

    “Shettima also extends appreciation to media establishments and journalists, local and international for their efforts so far.

    “He enjoins citizens with relevant information to forward such directly to security agencies using phone lines that have long been public or should send the information through community leaders in respective local government areas or to send to him directly through his phone numbers that are of public knowledge in Borno State.”

  • Shettima: I’ve passed information on girls to security

    Shettima: I’ve passed information on girls to security

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has said: “We have reports of them being sighted.”

    He said he had information on the whereabouts of about 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram.

    Governor Kashim Shettima said he had passed reports of the sightings of the girls to the military for verification.

    Mr Shettima added that he did not think the girls had been taken across the border to Chad or Cameroon

     

  • I have information on abducted girls – Borno governor

    I have information on abducted girls – Borno governor

    The governor of Borno State, Kashim Sheetima, said he has information on the whereabouts of about 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect.

    Shettima, according to the BBC, said he had passed reports on the sightings of the girls to the military for verification.

    The governor added that he did not think the girls had been taken across the border to Chad or Cameroon.

    Meanwhile, President Jonathan said an Israeli counter-terrorism team would arrive in Nigeria to help in searching for the schoolgirls, who were abducted last month in Borno State.

    Both the United States and United Kingdom distanced themselves from suggestions that they would send soldiers to take part in the military operation in the northern part of the country.

    “There’s no intention at this point to be putting any American boots on the ground” said U.S Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on Sunday.

    UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, said it was unlikely Nigeria would ask for British troops to help, but he added: “I said to President Jonathan where we can help, please ask, and we will see what we can do.”

     

  • 276 abducted girls: Jonathan invites Borno governor, others

    276 abducted girls: Jonathan invites Borno governor, others

    •Why fact-finding panel was raised
    •Security agencies discover male students in strange school
    •Security agencies may grill principal in Abuja

    PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is seeking additional information on the April 15 raid of Government Girls Secondry School, Chibok, Borno State by terrorists.

    He met Governor Kashim Shettima last night in Abuja on the situation.

    Also at the meeting were the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Musa Kubo and the Principal of the school, Asabe Kwabura.

    About 276 students of the school were abducted during the raid with 53 of them said to have escaped from their captors.

    It is understood that the Principal might undergo a fresh grilling by security agencies in Abuja.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Chibok may also be quizzed by security agencies.

    Sources also shed light on why President Jonathan raised the 26-man fact-finding panel announced on Friday.

    The committee, headed by a former boss of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Ibrahim Sabo, it was learnt, came into being   following irreconcilable gaps in the findings of security agencies and documents retrieved from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) about the school.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the president and a few security chiefs are likely to interact with the governor on the abduction and what has been done to rescue the girls.

    It was gathered that the presidency might use the opportunity to sort out a few things with the governor.

    A source familiar with the matter said that the invitation was based on “security brief at the president’s disposal on the abduction of the girls.”

    He added: “We hope they will be able to harmonise records on the abducted girls so that the nation can move forward. The international dimension of the abduction saga has made it imperative for the two leaders to meet.”

    On the invitation of the school’s principal, another source said: “Security chiefs will still meet with the two officials to clarify some grey areas.”

    Sources also said that the president opted for a fact-finding panel on the abduction following some gaps in the findings of the military and security agencies.

    These gaps include, which were considered by the Security Council on Friday, include the following:

    •   The controversy or dispute surrounding the actual figure of students in the school at the time of the abduction;

    •   The discovery of male students in the school when the insurgents struck;

    •   The revelation that students from many schools had converged on Chibok from neighbouring villages;

    •   The alleged presence of the school principal in Maiduguri when the incident happened;

    •   Inability of security agencies to obtain the dossiers of the students to date

    •   The submission made by the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC), organizers of the examination being taken by the victims to the Presidency

    •   Alleged continuation of the School Certificate Examinations by some students after the abduction

    A third source said: “It has reached a level where the presidency must explore all options. This reality made the government to raise the 26-man committee.

    “The international dimension has caused collateral damage to the nation, especially the military. Now, it is time to lay all cards on the table. This is why we want a UN representative to be in the committee.

    “The presidency is suspecting some politics by some vested interests although it has no cause to disagree with Borno State Governor. The presence of some former public figures at solidarity rallies for the abducted girls hurt the government. So, the panel has been constituted to consider all angles to the saga.”

    Government is also said to be worried about the presence of some boys in the school prior to the Boko Haram raid.

    “Until Friday, no one knew that there were boys in the Girls’ Secondary School when the abduction took place. How come the boys were not aware of the abduction? We also need to take the census of students and their parents to be able to know the exact number of girls missing.

    “WAEC has submitted the dossiers of students who registered for the SSCE in Chibok and surrounding villages. We need to find out whether some of these students have returned home or not.”

     

  • Abducted girls: youths protest in Lagos

    Abducted girls: youths protest in Lagos

    Scores of indigenes of Kibaku, a community in the Chibok town, where 234 girls were abducted from the Federal Government College by Boko Haram sect, yesterday staged a peaceful protest to the Alausa, Ikeja office of the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola.
    The protesters, mostly women and children, under the aegis of the Lagos State chapter of Chibok Youth Association, pleaded with Fashola to convey their grievances to President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State to ensure the safe return of the abducted girls.
    The group’s leader, Mr Yahaya Chiwar, said the group was worried that 13 days after the girls were abducted, there had been no positive news from the government concerning their safety or their chance of being rescued.
    He express dismay that after the parents of the girls searched Sambisa forest, located the camp where the insurgents were holding the girls and reported to the appropriate authorities, no action was taken.
    “Therefore, we have resolved that we cannot remain silent; we are here because of your commitment to security of lives and properties in the state. We believe the nearest authority to us is you; we believe we can express our grievances to you and you can forward our grievances to the relevant authorities, particularly to President Jonathan,” he said while presenting a letter to Fashola for President Jonathan.
    Fashola praised members of the association for their courage and selflessness to stand for their daughters and sisters who were unfortunate victims of the nation’s porous security system.
    “One can only imagine the kind of horror and grief the parents of these girls must be feeling, I am a parent myself and I understand it. If my children are ill, I know the kind of frustration, fear and anxiety that I go through when they are ill, not to mention indescribable emotion that the parents of these girls are going through to know whether they are alive and where they are and what conditions they might be in. even the girls themselves, the kind of fear, it must be a traumatic experience for everyone involved,” he said.
    Fashola encouraged the parents of the girls not to lose hope on the safe return of their children. He promised to deliver the letter to President Jonathan before the close of work yesterday.

  • Governors divided over emergency rule extension

    Governors divided over emergency rule extension

    There appears to be a split among governors on whether or not to extend emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. President Goodluck Jonathan is meeting with governors on security challenges tomorrow in Abuja.

    Governors Murtala Nyako, Kashim Shettima and Ibrahim Gaidam of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states are adamant on their position that there should be no extension of the emergency rule.

    The three governors have secured the support of some of their colleagues to reject plans to extend the state of emergency in their states.

    But some governors have been trying to pressurise the President to extend the emergency.

    Our correspondent gathered that there are three options before the President ahead of the crucial meeting.

    The options are: .extension of emergency rule; .ending the state of emergency with enhanced security apparatchik in the three states; and .placing restrictions on some services – in line with the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.

    The presidency is looking at the security implications of the three options.

    Jonathan, in a November 5, 2013 letter to Senate President David Mark, sought approval for the extension of the state of emergency in the three states because “some security challenges still exist in a few parts”.

    The request was granted by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that although the Presidency was already looking at the legal and security implications of extending the state of emergency, the three governors poised to resist it.

    The governors, who have reached out to their colleagues, are already lobbying members of the National Assembly to reject any notice of extension of the emergency rule.

    A top source said: “Most of the governors are rallying their colleagues to end the state of emergency in the three states. They have also secured the support of quite an appreciable number of National Assembly members.

    “So, the governors are determined to frustrate any move to extend the state of emergency. Therefore, unlike the overwhelming support, which the extension enjoyed in the National Assembly, it might not scale through this time around.

    “The state of emergency is also already politicized, with the Presidency feeling scandalised.”

    A governor said: “I know the state of emergency might be one of the issues to be discussed on Wednesday. We are already determined to ask the President to end the rule and let us see how the three states will cope.

    “We prefer total overhauling of the security apparatchik in the three states than the state of emergency which has paralysed the economic activities of the states.

    “The good thing is that the President cannot arbitrarily decide the fate of the three states. It is going to be a game of number in the National Assembly to extend the state of emergency. We are waiting for his decision.”

    One of the governors of the affected states, who spoke in confidence, said: “We believe we have had enough of the state of emergency because it has not stopped killings in the three states. Our position has not changed on the need to end it.

    “We want to appeal to the President to provide adequate security instead of the extension of the state of emergency.

    “What we are doing is to appeal to our colleagues to understand our position. We are better off without state of emergency.”

    Responding to a question, the governor said: “I think the state of emergency should end on May 19 and not April 19 , 2014 if it was really for a six-month period.”

    A Presidency source, however, said: “Wednesday’s meeting is going to focus on how to end rising insurgency in all parts of the Federation.

    “The President will present new security proposals or strategies by service chiefs to the governors for their input. He expects them to be large hearted enough and put the nation’s interest above personal sentiments or political partisanship.

    “The new strategies will be applicable to all the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT. He is meeting the governors because security is now everyone’s business.

    “There may be need for more financial collaboration between the Federal Government and the states on the new security measures.

    “The President is likely to use the opportunity to appeal to all stakeholders to avoid politicising security operations in the country. Some of the troops are feeling unappreciated.”

    Asked of the state of emergency in the three states, the source added: “This will be an issue but not the main agenda.

    “Even if it us not on the agenda, some of the governors will raise it because the fate of the state of emergency in the three states has dominated public discourse in the past few weeks.

    “The President has not made up his mind on the extension of the state of emergency because he is still consulting on the matter. These governors should appreciate that the President is determined to end these killings in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

    “The President is also likely to engage the leaders of the National Assembly on the way out. The consultation is necessary so that the governors will not turn round to point accusing fingers at Jonathan.

    “We have three options including the extension of the emergency, ending it and applying the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 as part of the enhanced security operations in the three states.

     

  • 234 school girls not 129 abducted, governor told

    234 school girls not 129 abducted, governor told

    Our fruitless search for pupils in Sambisa forest, by parent

    How many girls were abducted at the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State?

    The puzzle got more complex yesterday, with parents insisting that 234 were missing.

    Initially, 129 were believed to have been kidnapped by Boko Haram; 52 were said to have returned.

    Governor Kashim Shettima said 77 girls were being searched for.

    But the distraught governor was shocked yesterday to learn that 234 girls were actually kidnapped.

    The governor shunned security advice to visit the troubled town where parents told him that officials would not listen to them when they drew up their list of names of missing children and the total reached 234.

    A source on the entourage of the governor, gave reasons for the mix-up on figures of the abducted girls.

    “During the visit of Governor Kashim Shettima today (yesterday), parents thronged and filed 234 complaints of missing schoolgirls.

    “From the complaints, there were 129 science students at the hostel. They had not completed their exams and were expected to remain in the hostel.

    “Then, there were over 105 arts students, who had completed the exams and were expected to leave the hostel in the evening of that day hours before the attack. “Unknown to the dormitory master, the art students remained at the hostel and were part of those abducted.

    “The man gave his record of 129 science students as those abducted not knowing there were more.

    “That gave rise to the mix up. The fact is that the parents are confused due to understandable anxiety.”

    With this development, the whereabouts of 157 pupils are unknown.

    Security officials had warned Shettima that it was too dangerous for him to drive to Chibok, 130 kilometers (80 miles) from Maiduguri, the state capital.

    Education Commissioner Musa Inuwo Kubo and the principal of the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School had initially said that 129 science students were at the school to write a physics exam when the abductors struck, after midnight on April 14. Twenty-eight pupils escaped from their captors between Tuesday and Friday. Then another 16 were found to be day scholars who had returned to their homes in Chibok before the attack. That left 85 missing students, according to school officials.

    This latest confusion comes after the military had reported last week that all but eight of those abducted had been rescued — but then retracted the claim the following day.

    Security sources have said they are in “hot pursuit” of the abductors, but so far they have not rescued any of the girls and young women, aged between 16 and 18.

    Parents and other town residents have joined the search for the students in the Sambisa Forest, which borders Chibok town and is a known hideout for the militants.

    Boko Haram was on the rampage last week, staging four attacks in three days that began with a massive explosion during rush hour at a busy bus station Monday morning in Nyanya, Abuja, which killed no fewer than 75 people and injured 141.

    The school’s principal, Asabe Kwambura, who said she was working with parents to compile a complete registry of those taken, said: “A total of 230 names were registered by parents.

    “So far, 43 girls have escaped on their own. We still have 187 missing.”

    “We are appealing to Boko Haram to show mercy and release these girls,” said Chibok resident Haladu Sule.

    “The people of Chibok… will know no peace until they are freed.”

    Locals have fiercely criticised the rescue mission, claiming they have not yet seen a large build-up of troops in the region or any indication that the military had mobilised a major search effort.

    Some of the girls who escaped have said the Islamists took the hostages to Borno’s Sambisa Forest area, where Boko Haram is known to have well-fortified camps.

    Parents have trekked through the bushlands of the remote region in a desperate search for their daughters, pooling money to buy fuel for motorcycles and cars.

    Some turned back after being warned that the Islamists were nearby and prepared to slaughter anyone who advanced further.