The Nigerian Army has chided reports that its earlier redeployment of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole away from Dapchi is responsible for the recent abduction of female students from Government Girls Science Technical College.
The report credited to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state had alleged that the withdrawal of the military was responsible for the recent Boko Haram terrorists’ attack and abduction of female students of the college in Dapchi.
In a statement by Deputy Director, Public Relations, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, the Army explained that it only redeployed those troops from Dapchi to reinforce those at Kanama following attacks on troops’ location at the Nigerian – Nigerien border.
Aside from the exigencies of operation, the Army’s spokesperson said it had secured relative peace in Dapchi and formally handed over the town to the Nigerian Police Division in the area.
Onyema described the reports credited to Gaidam as misleading and misinforming stating that troops had been effective in decimating and dislodging insurgents from the enclaves such as in Sambisa and Lake Chad Islands.
He assured that the Army was undaunted in efforts to secure the release of the abducted school girls and other persons held captive by terrorists.
The statement read in parts, “The attention of Headquarters Theatre Command Operations LAFIYA DOLE, has been drawn to a statement credited to His Excellency Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Gaidam, Executive Governor of Yobe State, currently circulating in the media, in which he reportedly alleged that the withdrawal of the military was responsible for the recent suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ attack and abduction of female students from Government Girls Science Technical College in Dapchi . This allegation is not only unfortunate but also very far from the truth
“Contrary to the comments being circulated, troops earlier deployed in Dapchi were redeployed to reinforce troops at Kanama following attacks on troops’ location at the Nigerian – Nigerien border.
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“This was on the premise that Dapchi has been relatively calm and peaceful and the security of Dapchi town was formally handed over to the Nigeria Police Division located in the town. Troops’ redeployment was therefore done in tandem with the exigencies of operation and not as misconstrued.
“It is thus obligatory, to state that the allegation reportedly attributed to the Governor of Yobe state is misleading and misinforming. We reiterate our commitment and determination to carrying out our mandate to fight Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast.
“We also implore members of the public to continue to support us with credible information on the whereabouts of the Boko Haram terrorists. We would also like to assure the parents, government and the good people of Yobe State 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.”
Meanwhile, a group called Legal Minds for Good Governance Initiative (LMGGI) has told the federal government to accept full responsibility for the abduction of the students and desist from passing the buck.
The group in a statement credited to its Convener, Mr Festus Ogun said what was imperative for the federal government was to put in place realistic measures to secure the quick release of the girls.
While condemning the abduction as most unfortunate, the group said trading blames over the issue amounted to playing politics with national security.
The group’s statement read in parts, “The Federal Government is toying with the schoolgirls’ abduction by way of passing blames on other persons, bodies and groups. The Federal Government must accept full responsibility for the abduction and rather than passing blames and playing politics with it, it should put realistic measures in place to ensure the quick release of the schoolgirls.
“Politicization of national security issues like this is very precarious and the Federal Government should not indulge in unnecessary blame passing, to ensure a quick rescue of the schoolgirls.
“We maintain our stand that playing politics with the lives of the innocent schoolgirls is lame, needless and should be desisted from. Blame passing led to the trouble of Chibok that we are still recuperating from. Such should not be repeated again by the Federal Government.”
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