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Tag: Dapchi girls

  • Chibok/Dapchi girls comparison: Jonathan calls Lai Mohammed ‘notorious liar’

    Chibok/Dapchi girls comparison: Jonathan calls Lai Mohammed ‘notorious liar’

    Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has rubbished a statement credited to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed that his administration delayed in responding to the abduction of Chibok girls.

    Mohammed, while speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the Editors’ plaza championed by the Nigerian Guild of Editors, said, “Now, don’t compare orange with apple. When Chibok girls were kidnapped, it took the PDP government 18 full days to admit that the girls were kidnapped. This time we swung into action within 24 hours.”

    Reacting to the statement, Jonathan told Mohammed to respect his age and stop lying to Nigerians.

    In a statement signed on his behalf by his former aide, Reno Omokri, Jonathan described as lies report that his government took 18 days to admit that the Chibok Girls were kidnapped.

    The statement sent to TheNewsGuru reads, “My attention has been drawn to fallacious comments made by the notoriously dishonest Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to the effect that the Jonathan administration did not act on time when the Chibok Girls were kidnapped whereas the Buhari government acted promptly when the Dapchi Girls were kidnapped.

    “Lai’s comments are reminiscent of the statement made by Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, justifying President Buhari’s inaction on killer Fulani herdsmen because the herdsmen also killed during Jonathan’s tenure.

    “When will Lai Mohammed respect his old age and stop lying? Is he not ashamed at the storm he is currently facing on social media after he lied that 100 planes are searching for the Dapchi Girls, a statement that was promptly denounced as a lie by the Nigerian Air Force? Even members of his own government know Lai Mohammed is a liar.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, it is not true that the Jonathan government took 18 days to admit that the Chibok Girls were kidnapped.

    “The Chibok Girls were kidnapped on April 14, 2014. Exactly three days later, on April 17, 2014, then President Goodluck Jonathan called an emergency National Security Council meeting at Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

    “If the Jonathan administration did not admit that the Chibok Girls were kidnapped, why would the President summon a Nation Security Council meeting?

    “Now more than a week after the Dapchi Girls were kidnapped, has President Buhari held a National Security Council meeting to address the situation? No he has not. As a matter of fact, to prove to Nigerians how inept he is, the President canceled this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting.

    “Which serious leader cancels the most important meeting in his nation at a time when Kaduna is facing ethnic and religious killings, Zamfara is facing mass killings by bandits, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa and Taraba are facing an onslaught from Fulani herdsmen and 110 girls were kidnapped in Dapchi?

    “Going back to the Jonathan administration, the Nigerian Army and Air force began searching for the girls after the emergency National Security Council meeting on April 17, 2014, with sorties being flown in search of the girls.

    “But very curiously, Nigerians would recall that the All Progressive Congress Governor of Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima, admitted in an interview he gave Premium Times on April 2, 2016, that he deliberately did not inform the then President about the Chibok kidnap when it happened. President Jonathan had to find out from military forces on the ground.

    “Why would the chief security officer of his state be that negligent?

    “My advice to Alhaji Lai Mohammed is that he should direct his lying talents to the specific task of cooking up lies to counter the testimony of the APC Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Geidam, who blamed the kidnapping of the Dapchi Girls on the Buhari administration.

    “According to Mr. Geidam, the Nigerian Army under President Buhari pulled out the troops guarding Government Girls Science and Technology College, Dapchi.

    “Who gave the order for the troops to leave their guard duty? The sector command has said that they handed over security of the school to the Nigerian Police Force, an assertion that has been denied by the police.

    “These are the things that should concern Lai Mohammed, not a contest with an administration that scored higher anti-corruption ratings from Transparency International than the corrupt government he is serving. And if he has too much time on his hand, Lai Mohammed can travel to more European football clubs to disgrace himself and his family by wearing a suit jacket on top of an agbada.

    “Let me end by saying that whoever named Lai Mohammed at birth must have been a prophet. The person was able to look far ahead into Lai’s future and gave him a name that rhymes with his life’s purpose.”

  • Dapchi vs Chibok girls’ abduction: ‘Stop comparing apple with orange,’ FG tells PDP

    The Federal Government on Thursday said comparing its response to the recently abducted Dapchi school girls to that of Chibok girls abducted in 2014 by the Boko Haram insurgents under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration was like ‘comparing apple with orange’.

    The Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed said this at the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the Editors’ Plaza by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Abuja. He said it was swift as against ex-President Goodluck Jonathan administration “slow” response to the kidnap of Chibok girls.

    He said the government had deployed over 200 hours of air search for the Dapchi girls, and stressed that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had been “able to limit Boko Haram insurgents to their cowardly act of bombing soft spot and kidnapping.

    Mohammed, however, urged the media to show understanding as the nation was undergoing trying times.

    The minister’s response was provoked by taunts by former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, who wondered why Mohammed had lost his voice on the abduction of Dapchi girls unlike in 2014 when he took swipes at the Jonathan administration on the Chibok girls.

    Mohammed said it was wrong for Akpabio to “compare apple with orange” on the Buhari administration’s approach to the abduction of the Dapchi girls.

    The minister said: “Now, don’t compare orange with apple. When Chibok girls were kidnapped, it took the PDP government 18 full days to admit that the girls were kidnapped. This time we swung into action within 24 hours. And as I speak today, I have been to Yobe State twice, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and NSA have been there.

    “As of yesterday, we deployed over 200 hours of air search for the girls. Our appeal to the media today is to solicit for their support. We are now in trying times. It does not matter who is involved. We seek your support. We are not saying don’t criticise us, but be very fair and do it in context.

    “It is so easy to forget that less than three years ago, 20 out of 27 local governments in Borno State were under the control of Boko Haram. It easy to forget that in 2013 and 2014, Boko Haram insurgents were strolling into Abuja. They attacked United Nations office and the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.

    “But today, we have been able to limit them to their cowardly act of bombing to soft spot and kidnapping. Achieving this feat is not a small thing.”

    Mohammed said the Federal Government had performed well in the last three years.

    He added: “We have achieved a lot in the last three years. We cannot do everything in two to three years, but we have tried.

    “We must appreciate that in 2016, we imported 644,000 metric tons of rice, but in 2017, we imported only 4,000 metric tons of rice. Our Anchor Borrowers Programme is working so well, we have 4.2 million farmers in the scheme.

    “We have just concluded a high level meeting of the International Conference on Lake Chad Basin. How many of us have availed our platform to tell the world that in 1963 Lake Chad occupies 25,000 square kilometers, but the same Lake Chad occupies over 2,500sq meters, meaning that we have lost over 90 per cent of the surface of the water.

    “This is the biggest water basin in the world and the implication is where the 1200 fishes in the Lake Chad are. The land for fishing and irrigation has been lost.

    “Our appeal to the media is that we need the media to tell our story rightly. These are trying times for the nation we need your understanding. It is because there is Nigeria that we have Nigerian Guild of Editors. If there is no Nigeria, there will be no guild. We must have a strong, united and peaceful Nigeria before anything can be achieved.”

    The minister praised NGE for “daring to dream” to build the Editors’ Plaza in Abuja.

    He said: “Let me congratulate the editors for this feat. This is not just an edifice but laying the foundation for journalism in the years ahead. I am sure, God will give everyone of you long life to see the fruit which you have planted today.”

    Senator Akpabio, who chaired of the occasion, said the minister’s appointment was merited.

    But he wondered why he was quiet on the abduction of the Dapchi girls, unlike in 2014 when as the spokesman for the opposition he was on hard on Jonathan’s administration when Chibok girls were kidnapped.

    He said: “”A man (Lai) who before 2015 would have had a fantastic caption for the Dapchi girls kidnap. But because of where he is now, all he could do was to shake his head on the television.

    “But in those days, he would just say ‘oh, look at what has happened to Chibok girls. I weep for Nigeria, I mourn for bad governance’. That was just then, but today, you would just shake your head and say, ‘well, there is insecurity all around the world’,

    “My brother Lai Mohammed, I must thank you for the way you used to criticise me when I was a governor because even when you were in Holland one time, I spoke with you. You remember that time I called you?

    “Something happened in one of my local governments and you issued a statement immediately and condemned it. You condemned it in very strong terms, saying you were in opposition. And when I called and tried to explain to you, you said, ‘I am actually in Holland’. I shouted, I said then, ‘how did you manage to react to something that happened 20 minutes ago?’ That shows that your appointment is merited. I congratulate you. Yes, this is the truth.

    “You did a fantastic job in the opposition. Now, I am not the one to judge him where he is today. It is the President of Nigeria, his boss; he will be the one to give the score card at the end of the day. But, if you ask me, I think you are doing a very difficult job well. That is what I will say.”

    Akpabio said although Nigeria was passing through a difficult time, he was confident that the country would remain united.

    He added: ‘’No matter what, this country will not collapse. The media must engage in reportage that will promote good governance and democracy in the country by casting developmental headlines and shunning bias.

    ‘’Journalism is a serious business and should not be left in the hands of charlatans. Your headline can make or mar Nigeria and this is when the role of the gate keeper comes in. Your headline must bring about peace and development, Nigeria is passing through difficult time.

    Each time I see a journalist, I thank him/her for democracy in Nigeria, and I must charge you to do more. We must cast headlines that will unite us, engender patriotism in Nigeria, promote FDI and Nigeria and build Nigeria of our dream.

    “We must try to teach our children the right values, what is happening is an aberration, so we cannot completely blame the government.”

    NGE President Mrs. Funke Egbemode, said: “This property on which we are laying the foundation of The Editors Plaza became officially ours as a body on May 5, 2015 with conveyance of the Right of Occupancy signed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. It measures 5,603.28 sqm and we promptly swung into action to accept and occupy this property.

    “We held a fund-raising dinner to raise resources to realise the dream of our founders to find an abode suitable and fitting for the NGE, proceeds of which were deployed into securing this property.

    “We took a decision to buy a house in Ikeja, Lagos which we have since remoulded nicely to house the Nigerian Guild of Editors first secretariat in more than five decades of its existence. We commissioned it with fanfare in 2016.

    “But this one on which we stand solid is the real big deal for us. It is big. It is a dream come true. It is a massive project. Our consulting architect has put the project in the region of N350m to put the structure up alone. We are not fazed, not scared. We know we can do it.”

     

  • Dapchi Girls’ abduction: CAS temporally relocates to Maiduguri

    Dapchi Girls’ abduction: CAS temporally relocates to Maiduguri

    The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday said Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has temporally relocated to NAF Base, Maiduguri.

    The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He stated that the relocation was to enable Abubakar to have first hand information on progress of the air search operations for the missing Dapchi schoolgirls, abducted on Feb. 19.

    Adesanya noted that the relocation would also enable the CAS to give additional directives where necessary, to enhance the search.

    The NAF director added that “the relocation will enable the NAF boss to have first hand information on progress of air search efforts and also give additional directives as might be necessary.”

    He said the National Security Adviser (NSA) Mohammed Monguno was also at the NAF Base in Maiduguri, where he encouraged personnel involved in the day and night air search operations to sustain the tempo.

    The spokesman added that the NSA also inaugurated new projects to extend the reach of NAF helicopters.

  • Army engages fishermen, farmers to search for missing Dapchi schoolgirls

    The military has employed the services of local fishermen and farmers in the search for the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls, the head of counter-insurgency operation in the North East (Operation Lafiya Dole), Maj. Gen. Rogers Nicholas, has said.

    Speaking at the inauguration of helipad, office complex and residential quarters for officers and airmen at the newly established 171 Nigerian Air Force Detachment in Monguno town by the National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno on Tuesday evening, Nicholas said over 200 hours have been spent by crafts combing the Theatre for the schoolgirls.

    Nicholas said the National Security Adviser and Chief of Air Staff came down to add value to the ongoing search for the missing Dapchi schoolgirls.

    He said both the NSA and CAS have been flying round the Theatre to contribute to the ongoing search for the girls.

    He said: “What this means is that nobody is sitting down, sleeping over it. It means that the government is serious in rescuing these abducted girls. Primarily, that is why the NSA is here to see things for himself and add value to what we are doing.

    “Having said that, the NSA has also introduced us to some locals — fishermen and farmers — who have very good knowledge of this terrain to work with us in terms of intelligence to contribute to the search efforts we are making.

    “The Nigerian Air Force has been airborne since the last three days and we will also declare additional platforms to do this exercise. As I speak, many areas have been covered, over 200 hours have been spent flying, combing the whole Theatre in search of the girls.

    “Additionally the ground force are there in various places searching in various places identified.”

  • Army,police in blame game over 110 abducted Dapchi girls

    The army and the police yesterday disagreed over who should carry the can for the February 19 abduction of 110 Dapchi schoolgirls.

    The Army said it “formally” handed over security in Dapchi to the police as its men moved to another operation, but the police said there was no such handover.

    The army dismissed as “misleading”, alleged withdrawal of troops to aid the abduction of the Government Girls Science Technical College students in Dapchi, Yobe State.

    Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, in a statement in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, said the allegation against the military “is not only unfortunate, but also very far from the truth”.

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Geidam had reportedly alleged that the withdrawal of the troops from the area was responsible for the attack and abduction of female students of the college.

    Col. Nwachukwu said Dapchi town was handed over to the police following the return of peace and civil authority in the area.

    “Contrary to the comments credited to Governor Ibrahim Geidam, troops earlier deployed in Dapchi were redeployed to reinforce Kanama following attacks on troops’ location at the Nigerian – Nigerien border.

    “This is on the premise that Dapchi has been relatively calm and peaceful, and the security of Dapchi was formally handed over to the Nigeria Police Division located in the town.

    “Therefore, troops’ redeployment was done in tandem with the exigencies of operation as against the misconstrued notion.

    “Several local councils and communities, hitherto, under siege by the insurgents were liberated by troops who continue to trail and decimate remnants of the insurgents in the hinterlands, the security of such liberated communities and towns fall in the hands of the sister security agencies”.

    Col. Nwachukwu noted that the Theatre Command would not be joined in the blame game, but rather remained committed to ensuring successful implementation of the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East.

    He explained that the recent dislodgement and further decimation of the insurgents from their enclaves in the Sambisa forest and the Lake Chad region was a clear testimony of the effective operations against the insurgents.

    “Given all these efforts, it is very astonishing and shocking that such unfortunate comment and allegation is being touted against the loyal and dedicated troops of Operation Lafiya Dole”.

    “We assure parents, government, the good people of Yobe and indeed, members of the public that we will not rest on our oars in the search and rescue of the abducted school girls and any other persons held captive by the terrorists,’’ he said.

    But Police Commissioner in Yobe State, Sunmonu Abdumalik in a statement said: “The statement by the Military of formal handing over of Dapchi town to the Nigeria Police Division in Dapchi is not correct and untrue, as there was no time that the military informed the Police of their withdrawal, consult or handed over their locations in Dapchi town to the Police.

    “The whole of Yobe State is still under Security Emergency which the Police, the Military and other security agencies are battling to ensure lasting peace.

    “Members of the public in Yobe State are implored to disregard and discountenance this claim that the Military formally handed the security of Dapchi town to the Nigeria Police as untrue, unfounded and misleading.

    “The Yobe State Police Command will continue to cooperate with other security agencies in ensuring safety and protection of lives and property of people of Yobe State.”

    We’ll rescue girls, others, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised that his administration will do its all to rescue all Nigerians abducted by terrorists.

    He gave the assurance while addressing the recently freed abductees taken by terrorists in Borno State, including 10 girls and three lecturers.

    The President said: “While government was fully aware of the expectations of your families and the general public for your immediate freedom, the path to your freedom was painstaking and protracted. This was because the group responsible for your abduction were not only different but based in different locations that if not properly handled could result in dire consequences.

    “I thank all the various security agencies for their professionalism throughout this process, as well as other agencies of government, sister nations in the Lake Chad region, the International Committee of the Red Cross who have contributed to this feat of bringing you all home safely.

    “While thanking the security agencies and all those who facilitated this, let me clearly reiterate the resolve of this administration to ensure all persons abducted by the insurgents are rescued or released safely. This is especially against the backdrop of the recent incident where another group of girls were abducted on the 19th from Government Science and Technical Girls College, Dapchi, Yobe State.”

    According to Buhari, he has already directed all security agencies to ensure the safety of schools and students and safe return of the abducted girls to their families.

    He added: “Government remains unrelenting towards rescuing all those abducted. Government will also work closely with all stakeholders, especially the United Nations and other donor agencies, voluntary organisations towards rehabilitating and resettling all those displaced as a result of all these conflicts, to quicken resumption of meaningful social economic activities.

    “I remain very mindful of the pains and injury collectively metted out by the insurgents and we will ensure that government does not leave any stone unturned to degrade and contain these insurgents and ensure that complete peace returns to our land.

    “Once again, I’m pleased to see that all of you are now free and will soon join your loved ones as well as be fully integrated back into the society.

    “Nigerians sympathise with you on your ordeal and wish you welcome back to your families and friends.

    “And I suppose the NYSC should give a certificate of discharge to the person that spent the remaining of her service somewhere else (with abductors).”

    The President went on: “This administration has been unrelenting in your rescue and freedom from your captors several months ago. I was terribly saddened by the incident of the abduction of June 20th, last year and the brutal killing of six others on the spot along Damboa Road while heading for the burial of a close one in Askira Uba Local Government of Borno State.

    “The second was the July 26th, last year of the abduction of three university staff who were on official mission to explore the the possibility of the exploration of oil at the Lake Chad Basin.

    “I can assure that apart from your family members, every peace-loving Nigerian prayed for your safety and wished for your early release from the hold of your abductors.

    “Your rescue on the 10th of February this year was a very huge relief to me personally as well as to all Nigerians.

    “Let me say that this government treasures all the human lives, particularly that of its citizens, and following your abductions, the security agencies were directed by me to do everything humanly possible to ensure the safe release of every one of you and other persons under hold of the insurgents.”

    The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, listed the names of the abductees, who were brought to the President on Monday, to include Jummai Ibrahim, who was serving her NYSC at the time of her abduction, Esther Wazari Kwasina and Amina Adams Gomdiya, Gloria Bulus, Paulina Amos, Tani Audu, and a final year student in the University of Maiduguri, Fustina.

    He told the President that his organization chose the path of negotiation because it was considered as the safest.

    “Because any forceful attempt to rescue the victims could endanger their lives. These negotiations took several months and the Department of State Services with support of the external elements of the group in diaspora and support from friendly countries and liaising with International Committee of the Red Cross made the rescue possible.”

    Daura said that the process was slow due to the problem of dealing with two groups based in different locations at the same time.

    According to him, the negotiations took place mostly outside the country, but they were finalised in the theater of operations.

    He said: “The negotiations were mainly centered on an attempt at conflict mitigation which include the fate of arrested members of the insurgent groups, especially, accepting to free by government those found not to be culpable in any criminal action. Also, possible cessation of hostilities, especially the attacks with IEDs on innocent civilians, worship centers, schools and other public places in return for temporary stoppage of air strikes by helicopter gunships.

    “Lastly, the negotiation was also centered on the possibility of granting amnesty to those willing to surrender and ready to lay down their arms by the federal government.” he said

  • Dapchi girls: I will ensure every abducted persons are safely released – Buhari

    President Muhamamdu Buhari on Monday promised that his administration would ensure the safe return of all those abducted by the Boko Haram sect, including the 110 students of the Government Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State.

    Buhari made the promise at the Presidential Villa, Abuja while receiving three University of Maiduguri lecturers, one policewoman and nine other women rescued from the insurgents.

    In a series of messages he posted on his Twitter handle, @MBuhari, the President said he assured his guests that nobody would be left behind in captivity.

    “I can’t fully express the joy I felt this afternoon, as I received our citizens recently released from Boko Haram captivity—fathers, mothers, sons, daughters. We will go to any length to ensure that no one is left behind in the hands of terrorists. Every Nigerian life matters,” he wrote.

    The President added, “They are the University of Maiduguri lecturers, abducted while on service to their fatherland, and also the women abducted from a funeral procession.

    “Today they are safely back home, and Nigeria rejoices with them and with their families.

    “They told me that they had given up all hopes of ever coming back alive. I assured them that we will never give up on any of our citizens.

    “I have asked the security agencies to ensure that every abducted person—including the Dapchi girls—is safely released.”

  • Dapchi Girls: Hold Buhari, Security Chiefs responsible for abduction – PDP tells Nigerians

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told Nigerians to hold the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government responsible for the abduction of some schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State on Monday by the Boko Haram sect.

    The party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of complacency and insincerity in handling the abduction.

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday apologized to Nigerians especially parents and families of the abducted schoolgirls.

    He described the abduction as a ‘national disaster’ and reassured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to bring back the abducted schoolgirls by all means.

    However, the PDP in a statement signed and released by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan on Friday said the recent abduction and other incidents that border largely on kidnappings and killings shows that President Buhari and the APC have failed in the simple task of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians when it most.

    The statement reads in full:

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds firmly that Nigerians should hold President Muhammadu Buhari-led Presidency directly responsible for the abduction of schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe state and several other atrocities committed by insurgents against citizens, particularly in the northern part of the country.

    The Buhari Presidency has put Nigerians at risk by deceiving the people and issuing false performance indices suggesting that insurgents have been completely routed out, a situation which made our unsuspecting citizens trust a lie and dropped their guards in the face of real threats and danger.

    Without doubt, if the incompetent All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government had not dished out lies to the people in a bid to score cheap political points for its ill-lucked 2019 re-election bid, more precautionary measures would have been adopted by the affected communities to ensure adequate protection.

    While Nigerians are appalled by APC’s recourse to false indices in critical sectors, it is, however, to say the least, an inexcusable height of wickedness to give a vulnerable people a false assurance of security when they are actually in danger.

    Furthermore, the PDP decries as iniquitous, the efforts by APC-controlled federal authorities to suppress information on the abduction, leading to conflicting reports and frustrating of rescue mission, just because they seek to hide the failures of the presidency in ensuring the safety of Nigerians, particularly in the north.

    We were shocked that in their proclivity to deceive, the authorities earlier informed Nigerians that some of the girls have been recovered only for the news to turn out to be false.

    While President Buhari has not uttered any word of assurance, Government’s visiting team headed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed only had a whistle stop at the Dapchi school and made no effort to interface or even commiserate with community leaders and parents of the abducted girls, while completely shutting out the media. This only further confirms APC’s insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.

    It is more irking that the President and Commander-in-Chief will publicly provide a day an asymmetry war will come to an end as if acts of insurgency are fought like a conventional warfare.

    It is painful that Nigerians are faced today with a government that has been heavy on propaganda and issuing of false statistics, while playing down on several atrocities committed against defenseless citizens.

    Under the PDP, Nigerians were never told lies on the true situation of the state of affairs in all sectors, particularly security. The PDP-led government constantly briefed Nigerians and carried all stakeholders along in our concerted effort in securing lives and property in our nation.

    Nigerians and indeed the world must hold the Buhari Presidency and the APC-led Federal Government directly responsible for the abduction of these defenseless schoolgirls as well as the killings in our country today.

    While the PDP stands with the parents of the abducted girls at this moment of their harrowing pains and prays for their speedy return, we implore our security forces to insulate themselves from APC propaganda, take very decisive professional steps to recover our girls and end the killings in our country.

     

    Signed:

    Kola Ologbondiyan

    National Publicity Secretary

  • 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 good 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 benefiting 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.”