THE DAPCHI SCHOOL GIRLS ABDUCTION

The kidnapping of over105 school girls in Dapchi, Yobe State, last week Monday has put to rest the much-acclaimed success in the war against Boko Haram in the country. The insurgents’ successfully gained entrance, forced the students into their lorry and conveyed them to an unknown destination. The unlucky victims, like their Chibok counterparts, will be forcefully married out, sexually exploited, used to get ransom or used as suicide bombers by Boko Haram. The news of the abduction began with conflicting narrative from Yobe State government. The state government admitted that Dapchi school girls were actually abducted by the Boko Haram, but rescued through the efforts of soldiers during operation and re-united with their families. It later refuted the story after it found out the students are nowhere to be found. For the federal government, the story seemed cooked up until it sent representatives on fact-finding mission. The delegation led by Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, was briefed on how the unfortunate abduction was carried out. Governor Geidam expressed displeasure on security laxity and blamed the mass seizure on the withdrawal of troops one week before the raid.

The governor further stated how his administration spent N15 billion on war against terrorism in the state in the last three years. What worried many Nigerians is the time and speed with which the deadly group struck and carried out their nefarious abduction. It will be recalled that the abduction came at a time the federal government is busy trying to free the Chibok school girls who are in Boko Haram captivity for the past four years. The Dapchi abduction will unarguably throw spanners in the genuine desire to free the remaining Chibok girls. The government is now faced with two interwoven scenarios that require similar solution. Firstly, it has to pursue the discovery of the remaining Chibok girls. Secondly, the government should as a matter of urgency intensify surveillance to free the over 105 students kidnapped by Boko Haram. The politicisation of the Chibok girls abduction by the last administration should not be allowed to repeat itself. In the wake of disappearance of Chibok girls, the then administration felt the incident was stage- managed to ridicule the government of the day. The government blamed the opposition party. It took many days and efforts by the Bringbackourgirls conveners to convince the government on the seriousness of the matter. The human rights activists and similar organisations should put the government on its toes. The Bringbackour girls campaign organisation has assisted greatly towards mounting pressure on government. Now, with Dapchi, there is another call to do more.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua,Kaduna State