Days after abduction of Dapchi schoolgirls, Nigerian govt says it’s still monitoring the situation

Four days after the ‘defeated’ Boko Haram terrorists abducted over 100 schoolgirls of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, the Federal Government said that it is still monitoring the situation.

The government said it would therefore not manufacture stories on the true state and the actual number of the kidnapped schoolgirls.

This was stated by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Thursday when he arrived at the college, asking parents of the abducted children and the people of the community to give the Federal Government more time to be able to tell the exact situation of things.

The minister also claimed that the attack was a dying effort of the insurgent group who has been pushed out of its base in Sambisa forest to embarrass President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“We are still monitoring the situation and what I want people to understand is that since two days ago some of the students who fled to neighbouring towns and communities had returned and more have been returning.

“When we arrived here we have been briefed by the governor and the GOC about the situation of the students. We know there are few students who are yet accounted for, but we don’t want to manufacture stories on this issue. But give us few days, we will be able to tell you exactly the real situation of things.

“But you can see response of the military, the response of the state government is quite commendable. Since four days now we have been following the efforts being made to arrest the situation.

“On the issue of the number of missing girls, we cannot give what we are not sure of, until we hear from their parents, we cannot say this is the number. Give us a few more time please.

“We must understand that these are they dying days of the Boko Haram and what they intend to do is to embarrass the government because they have been degraded, they have been pushed out of Sambisa forest.

READ ALSO: Angry Dapchi residents attack Yobe gov’s convoy over missing schoolgirls’ claims

“They have been starved out of oxygen and the oxygen they feed on is publicity so that they can grab the world’s attention. But I can assure you that with the determination of our gallant military, the days of Boko Haram are numbered,” Mohammed said.

Mohammed was received by Governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Geidam, and the Theatre Commander, Operations Lafiya Dole, Maj Gen. Rogers Nicholas.

 

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