The Presidency has confirmed the release of abducted students
of Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State.
The girls were abducted by the terrorists sect, Boko Haram sect on February 19.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed this when contacted.
Shehu promised to give further details on the development later.
“Yes, the girls are being transported to safety. We will give details later. We thank God,” he said.
The girls’ release came exactly one week after President Muhammadu Buhari visited the school where they were kidnapped.
Buhari had during the visit last Wednesday reassured parents of the
abducted schoolgirls that the Federal Government will not rest on its
oars, until their wards are safely brought back home.
The President, who was accompanied by Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe
State, said he had directed full scale aerial surveillance and
investigation to ensure that the girls were returned safely.
“I have read the full report of what happened in Dapchi. As I
received the report, I was saddened and I am praying that God will
continue to console you,” he said.
Buhari also said government will ensure that the Boko Haram menace is totally brought to an end.
“Boko Haram was in control of many local councils in Borno and some
parts of Yobe State before we came. Now it has resorted to using young
girls for suicide missions in mosques, churches and motor parks.
“We will not spare their members. We will ensure that Boko Haram
meets its waterloo. By the will of God, I have directed the police and
reinforced them, and the army and air force to keep searching until the
children are returned alive,” he said.
The insurgents group returned the girls in nine vehicles, an episode similar to how they were taken away.
It was gathered that there was confusion in the area as
members of the community scampered upon sighting the vehicles.
From the sketchy details of this occurence, it was gathered that five of the girls may have died while in custody of the insurgents.