Two dead bodies of the missing Dapchi schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists on Monday, in Yobe state, have been recovered by the Nigerian military during rescue operation on Wednesday
Reports also indicates that the Nigerian military rescued 76 of the schoolgirls. Boko Haram terrorists had, Monday, attacked the Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe state, and abducted many of the girls.
Ever since, several conflicting reports have emerged as to the true situation of the incident. While some reports claimed the Nigerian army rescued 68 of the girls and that 111 of them were still missing, other reports claim 76 of the schoolgirls have been rescued while two have been killed and their dead bodies recovered.
Meanwhile, the Yobe state Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, has faulted the claim that the Nigerian army actually rescued some of the girls. The Governor made the disclosure when he visited the affected families in Dapchi community, Yobe state.
Governor Gaidam was said to have told the people of Dapchi community that none of the abducted schoolgirls has been rescued yet. The report also said the Governor urged the affected parents and the community to continue praying for the safe return of their daughters. Meanwhile, a report by Reuters claimed that while the military has rescued 76 of the girls, two of the them have been killed while 13 others are still missing
The report said a resident and a local government official said there is jubilation in Dapchi community over the rescue of the girls.. “Everybody is celebrating their coming with songs and praises to God almighty,” said Babagana Umar, one of the parents whose daughter had disappeared.
“The only sad news is that two girls were dead and no explanation.”
They said the rescued girls were returned to the village of Dapchi late on Wednesday evening. Earlier on Wednesday, sources said 91students were still unaccounted for after a roll-call was taken at their school on Tuesday.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, dispatched the foreign affairs and defense ministers to Yobe to investigate the situation. Parents and witnesses who earlier revealed the news of the missing students to newsmen spoke on condition of anonymity because they said they had been warned by Nigerian security and government officials not to disclose the disappearance.
HOW BOKO HARRAM TERRORISTS STRUCK DAPCHI SCHOOL.
Witnesses who disclosed the incident to newsmen said the Boko Haram terrorists arrived in Dapchi on Monday evening in trucks, with some mounted with heavy guns and painted in military camouflage.
The terrorists reportedly went directly to the school, shooting sporadically, sending students and teachers fleeing. The witnesses also said that some people had returned to Dapchi after spending the night hiding in the bush.
Meanwhile, the Yobe state Police Commissioner, Sumonu Abdulmaliki, told newsmen on Tuesday that Boko Haram had also abducted three people from nearby Gaidam. More than 20,000 people have been killed and two million forced to flee their homes in the northeast of Africa’s most populous nation since Boko Haram began its insurgency in 2009.
Of about 270 girls abducted from their school in Chibok in April 2014, about 60 escaped soon afterwards and others have since been released after mediation. Around 100 are still believed to be in captivity.
Last month, Boko Haram released a video purporting to show some of the Chibok girls still in its custody, saying they do not wish to return home. Aid groups have said that Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands more adults and children, many of whose cases have been neglected.
The Yobe State Government has apologised for a false report it released stating that some of the missing schoolgirls from the state had been rescued.
At least 30 girls of the Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) Dapchi, were still missing as at Wednesday evening, three days after their school was attacked by suspected Boko Haram members.
A government statement late on Wednesday stated that many of the missing girls had been freed by soldiers, a statement that turned out false.
The state government released the statement below on Thursday evening to apologise for the misinformation.
The public may recall that we issued a statement last night in which we announced that some of the girls at Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) Dapchi who went missing after Boko Haram terrorists had stormed their school last Monday were rescued by officers and men of the Nigerian Army who are currently executing the war against the Boko Haram Insurgents.
We issued the statement on the basis of information provided by one of the security agencies that is involved in the fight against Boko Haram and which we had no reason to doubt.
We have now established that the information we relied on to make the statement was not credible.
The Yobe State Government apologises for that.
His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was in Dapchi today where he met with community leaders and the Principal and staff of the Girls’ College. The governor also addressed the parents of some of the schoolgirls that are still unaccounted for where he told them to pray and exercise patience as the government and security agencies at all levels continue the work to address the unfortunate situation.
His Excellency Governor Gaidam has also directed Education Ministry officials and the school administration to work closely with the security agencies to establish the actual number of the girls that are still unaccounted for and to contact parents and the community for possible information that could be useful in the investigation.
His Excellency Governor Gaidam shares deeply and personally in the grief about the unfortunate event at the Girls’ College and, under his leadership, the Yobe State Government will continue to do everything necessary in partnership with security agencies and the federal government to address the situation.
Source: Vanguard
Source: Vanguard
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