The Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mr Stephane Dujarric that he “strongly condemns the abduction and attack”.

Guterres said he was gravely concerned over the situation of the schoolgirls’ abducted during an attack on their educational institution in Dapch, Yobe state, on Feb. 19.

The Secretary-General called for the immediate and unconditional release of all missing girls and for their safe return to their families.

The UN chief urged the Nigerian authorities to swiftly bring those responsible for this dastardly act to justice.

Guterres reiterated the solidarity and support of the UN to Nigerian Government and other affected countries in the region in their fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

The UN had earlier described the abduction as “another horrific incident where young women and girls are targeted by terror groups”.

“And we very much hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice, and just as importantly, that the girls will be found and returned to safety.

“I think the fact that these young women were abducted in an educational setting, where they should have been safe, where they should feel safe, just adds to the horror of the story.”

The post UN outraged by Dapchi schoolgirls abduction – Guterres appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Aisha Wakil, a former member of the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the northern region of Nigeria under the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan, had, in previous efforts, brought military officers and Boko Haram Commanders together during negotiations. She was also credited to the release of some abductees from the Boko Haram sect via phone calls to the leadership, including some Chibok girls.

Speaking to in Maiduguri, Aisha who is said to be highly respected by some leaders of Boko Haram said she was ready to sacrifice her life to rescue the girls from abductors.

The activist was reported to have helped in the circumcision of some kids over two decades ago who later became Boko Haram members. Her relationship with the sect members earned her the name ‘Mama Boko Haram.’

Disturbed about the latest abduction of 110 students of Government Girls Technical College Dapchi, Aisha has renewed her commitment to fight to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The activist who cried profoundly said “This thing that is happening, is really breaking my heart. These children don’t even know what they are doing. Some of them were not even born at the time this thing started.

“Wallahi I will go after them, even if it will take my life to save these girls. They call me Mummy, but they don’t listen to me. I keep on talking to them, begging them to lay down their arms and embrace peace but they will say ‘Insha-Allah mummy we are going to stop.’ Sometimes they will say they are scared they are going to be killed but I will tell them nobody is going to kill you.”

Appealing to the leader of the Boko Haram Sect, Aisha said: “I heard you are now been called ‘Abu Mussad Albarnawi’ but I know you as Habib and I am begging you to stop the killing and abduction. I have sent many messages to you. I don’t know if you are getting these messages or you just choose to continue to hurt your mother and make her cry.

“Dear Habib, Nuru and others, I was told you may be the ones responsible for the kidnapped of these girls. Where ever you may be if you are listening to me, I beg you in the name of Allah to release the girls back to their families.

“What type of children will continue letting their mother to continue crying. Dear Habib, I pray Allah touches your heart and that of your colleagues to stop what you are doing. Please come out. I will never deny you even if the whole world did. Those who know you know your heart. They know you are no longer interested in the fight anymore.

“I will hold all of you and wrap you with my wrapper and bring you out and no one is going to shoot you. If they will shoot you, they will have to shoot me first. I don’t mind sacrificing my life if you will stop what you are doing. If I die to stop Boko Haram, I know I will go to paradise.”

Respected by many in her community, Aisha Wakil has been actively involved in efforts to end Boko Haram through her NGO “Complete Care and Aid Foundation” aimed at restoring peace to the northeast by rehabilitating the youth against warped ideologies that mislead them to join the terror group.

The organisation is designed to provide a free feeding centre, fight drug abuse, sex hawking, human trafficking, female genital mutilation and de-worming among persons displaced by the insurgency..

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The committee was convened by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), according to a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The Committee, which will be chaired by a military officer of the rank of Major General, comprises one senior Provost each from the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force; representatives of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA); Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA); Nigeria Police Force (NPF); Department of State Services (DSS); Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); two representatives of the Yobe State Government and a representative of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The terms of reference of the Committee include ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the girls, confirming the presence, composition, scale and disposition of security emplaced in Dapchi as well as in GGSTC before the incident and suggesting measures that can lead to the location and rescue of the girls.

The panel, which is expected to submit its report by 15 March 2018, is also saddled with recommending measures to prevent future occurrence.

The Committee will be inaugurated on Wednesday.

The post FG sets up committee to probe abduction of Dapchi girls appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The parents said they were the only source of credible data, dismissing figures provided by the state government as false.

The parents, who have created a group to collate names of the missing girls, advised the governor of Yobe state to stop listening to “fake data” given to him by security operatives.

“Governor Ibrahim Gaidam must call us to a meeting so that we can give him a firsthand data on the number of our daughters that have gone missing since the attack on Monday,” said Mr. Bashir Manzo, who acts as the chairman of the Forum of Missing Dapchi Schoolgirls Parents.

The governor had on Friday, while hosting governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje, said 86 girls were missing after the attack on Monday.
Manzo said they created a forum to check such “misrepresentation”. “We have decided to form a forum not for any other purpose other than seeing that we also contribute to how our missing daughters can be rescued and brought to us safely,” said Manzo.

“So our forum has since been collating the bio-data of all the girls that are not accounted for. And to achieve the best result, we do not take information from any third person or through phone call except by physical presentation by the father or mother of the missing schoolgirl.

“When any parent come here to meet us, he has to give us his name and the name of his daughter; her class and then we also collect his phone number along the name of his town and local government area.

“So far, from what we have collated as at today Saturday 23rd February 2017, we have a total of 105 schoolgirls who have not been seen since the attack of Dapchi on Monday 19th February. This list did not come from the school management or any government source but (was) collated by us from the parents of the girls.

“As far as we are concerned, the governor is still being fed with fake information about these poor girls. Our major concern now, is for us to have a direct meeting with the governor of Yobe state so that we could tell him the home truth about our daughters that have gone missing.

“Whatever report that is given to him, (if) they don’t tally with what we have, amounts to fake information. He needs to know that truth and only we the parents that can confirm it to him that our daughters who are students of GGSTC Dapchi had been kidnapped by Boko Haram.

“From the feelers we are getting it thus seem the governor is still not been made to understand that these girls were abducted; he is still being made to believe that they had gone missing because they ran into the bush and have not been able to find their ways back to town.

“The fact of the matter is that all those that fled into the bush had been brought back to the school on Tuesday, and a roll call was taken after which they had all gone home to meet their parents.

“So far, we have a total of 105; we don’t know if there could be more of them,” he said.
Mr. Bashir said his teenage daughter, Fatima Bashir, a Junior Secondary III student, is amongst the missing girls.

Boko Haram gunmen on Monday attacked Dapchi town of Yobe state and went away with students of the town’s girls’ secondary school.

Neither the military nor the management of the school have given yet an accurate figure of the schoolgirls that were abducted.

The minister of information, Lai Mohammed, visited Dapchi on Thursday where he told the media that the federal government still needs “some few days” to confirm the figures with the parents.

According to the Forum of Missing Parents, the 105 missing girls are as follows:-
1. Fatima Bashir
2. Aisha Kachalla
3. Zainab Abubakar
4. Falmata Wakil
5. Fatima Isa
6. Fatima Musa
7. Aisha Usman
8. Aisha Adamu
9. Fatima Isa
10. Hauwa A. Mohammed Idriss
11. Maryam Mohammed
12. Fatima Mohammed I
13. Hauwa Salisu
14. Hassana Gambo
15. Aisha Adamu
16. Adama Garba
17. Zara Grema
18. Maryam Daamkontoma
19. Zainab Bama
20. Fatsuma Abdullahi
21. Fatima Yahaya Tarbutu
22. Amina Yahaya Tarbutu
23. Amina Adamu
24. Hajara Ali
25. Fatima Abdullahi
26. Fatsuma Ali
27. Zara’U Mohammed
28. Salamatu Garba
29. Falmata Alh. Inuwa
30. Falmata Alh. Ali
31. Aisha B. Danjuma
32. Maryam Bashir
33. Maryam Aliyu Mabu
34. Fatima Modu Bamba
35. Aisha Modu Bamba
36. Hafsat Haruna
37. Rabi Alh. Nasiru
38. Hadiza Moh’D
39. Fatima Aji Hassan
40. Falmata Wakil
41. Aisha Wakil
42. Falmata A. Audu
43. Aisha Maina
44. Aisha Mohammed
45. Aisha Mamuda
46. Name missing on list
47.Zainab Usman
48. Hadiza Mohammed Taiduma
49. Maryam Ibrahim
50. Fatima M. Gira
51. Hafsat Ibrahim Gira
52. Maryam Ibrahim
53. Zara Tijjani
54. Amina Haruna
55. Fatima Adamu
56. Khadija Mai Sale
57. Khadija Ali
58. Habiba Musa Jakana
59 Fatima Bukar
60. Hajara Gidado
61. Maryam Basiru
62. Fatima Usman
63. Maryam Ibrahim
64. Leah Sherubu
65. Aisha Alh. Deri
66. Fatima Hassan Mustapha
67. Zainab Manu
68. Zara Tijjani
69. Zainab Bukar Abba
70. Hauwa Saidu Abubakar
71. Karima Inusa
72. Amina A. Abubakar
73. Yakura Sani
74. Rabi Yahaya Tela
75. Hajara Yahaya Tela
76. Marya Mustapha
77. Aisha Abdullahi
78. Maryam Adamu Mohammed
79. Bintu Usman
80. Fatsuma Mohammed
81. Salamatu Isiyaku
82. Hauwa Lawan
83. Aisha B. Danjuma
84. Aisha Moh’D Jakusko
85. Hauwa Bulama
86. Fatima Abubakar Jambo
87. Walida Adamu
88. Fanna Mohammed
89. Aisha M. Bukar
90. Maryam Usman
91. Aisha Abba Aji
92. Maryam Usman
93. Maimuna A. Hassan
94. Zara Musa
95. Maryam Mohammed Kaku
96. Khadija Suleiman
97. Habiba Nuhu Dan Inu
98. Fatima Isiyaku Aliyu
99. Sahura Jibir Mohammed
100. Khadija Grema Dabuwa
101. Zara Grema Dabuwa
102. Zara Mohammed Lawan
103. Fatima Mohammed
104. Fati Modu Aisami
105. Fatsuma Alli

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According to the President, “When I received the devastating news of the attack on the school and the fact that the local authorities could not account for all the students, I immediately dispatched a high-level delegation on a fact-finding visit to the town. I also instructed the security agencies to deploy in full and not spare any effort to ensure that all the girls are returned safely, and the attackers arrested and made to face justice.

“The entire country stands as one with the girls’ families, the government and the people of Yobe State. This is a national disaster. We are sorry that this could have happened and share your pain. We pray that our gallant armed forces will locate and safely return your missing family members.

“Our government is sending more troops and surveillance aircraft to keep an eye on all movements in the entire territory on a 24-hour basis, in the hope that all the missing girls will be found.”

The post We’ll spare no effort in rescuing your girls, Buhari assures relatives of Dapchi school attack appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Police said on Wednesday that 111 girls from the state-run boarding school in Dapchi, were unaccounted for following a jihadist raid on Monday night.

Hours later, Abdullahi Bego, spokesman for Yobe state governor Ibrahim Gaidam, said “some of the girls” had been rescued by troops “from the terrorists who abducted them”.

But on a visit to Dapchi on Thursday, Gaidam appeared to question whether there had been any abduction.

“The girls scattered during the attack, and we can’t be sure whether they were lost or taken,” he said. “We have no certainty that these boys (Boko Haram) took these girls.

“Nobody saw these girls being taken in vehicles. It is possible some of the girls came across motorists and they gave them a ride to some places.”

As news of his comments spread, groups of angry youths set up barricades and burned car tyres in the streets, hurling missiles at the governor’s convoy.

An AFP reporter said several vehicles suffered smashed windscreens from stones and parts of concrete blocks, while police and soldiers chased rioters down side streets.

Bego’s statement had been the first official acknowledgement of an abduction, two days after Boko Haram fighters stormed the remote town in pick-up trucks and a lorry.

The disappearance sparked fears of a repeat of the 2014 mass kidnapping of more than 200 girls from a similar school in Chibok, in neighbouring Borno state.

Initially, the students in Dapchi were reported to have fled with their teachers at the sound of gunfire. Families claimed the authorities tried to cover up the abduction.

A federal government delegation dispatched from Abuja spent less than an hour on the ground at the school meeting Gaidam and military commanders before leaving by helicopter.

Information Minister Lai Mohammed made no direct comment on Gaidam’s remarks, but said some students “have phoned from their hiding places… (and) other locations”.

He told reporters: “As things develop we will let you know. But we cannot categorically say, ‘x number of girls have been abducted’. But we can say that not all have returned.”

Inuwa Mohammed, whose 16-year-old daughter, Falmata, was missing, said he was “devastated by this twist of events” and that his wife fainted on hearing the news and was in hospital.

“I woke up with the strong hope of meeting my daughter and my wife had been making preparations for a warm welcome, only for us to receive this shattering news that all along the story has been a rumour,” he added.

The attack will again raise questions about the government’s grip on security in remote northeast Nigeria, after nearly nine years of fighting and at least 20,000 deaths.

Residents said fighters dressed in military fatigues and turbans arrived unchallenged, firing weapons and shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”).

Safai Maimagani, a herbal medicine vendor, said the militants headed towards the school on the edge of the sleepy farming community.

“Not long afterwards they returned,” he said. “I heard shrieks of girls from the lorry.”

Muhammad Kabo, a tea seller, gave a similar account: “They were here for less than an hour. I heard girls wailing in the truck and it was clear that they abducted some girls from the school.”

A school security guard who gave his name as Baa-Koro said the gunmen tried to stop the girls from fleeing and tricked them into believing they had come to rescue them.

“Some of the girls believed them and climbed up into the lorry. Many others just kept running,” he added.

President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015 on a promise to defeat the Islamic State group affiliate and has repeatedly maintained they are now a spent force.

But civilians — especially those displaced by the conflict — remain vulnerable to suicide attacks and hit-and-run raids.

The Dapchi attack also calls into question how far pledges to improve security at schools have been implemented nearly four years after the Chibok abduction.

The post Yobe youths attack Gov Geidam’s convoy in Dapchi appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Aabdullahi Bego, Director General to Yobe State Governor on Press Affairs, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

“The Yobe State Government hereby informs the public that some of the girls at Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) whose school was attacked by Boko Haram terrorists last Monday have been rescued by gallant officers and men of the Nigerian Army from the terrorists who abducted them.

“The rescued girls are now in the custody of the Nigerian Army. We will provide more details about their number and condition in due course.

“His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, who is very grateful for the gallantry and hard work of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army involved in the operation, is monitoring the situation closely and will make a statement in due course” the statement said.

It was gathered that the girls “were rescued at Jilli-Muwarti, a border village between Gaidam in Yobe State and Borno State.”

A security source disclosed that the students are on their way to Gaidam in Yobe State for medical check-up before proceeding to Damaturu, the state capital.

The girls were abducted when suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Government Girls Secondary School, Dapchi, in Yobe State.

The post Soldiers rescue abducted Yobe school girls appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The police said one hundred and eleven are yet to be accounted for while Mohammed Lamin, the state commissioner of education, said 48 missing students had returned.

Lamin had said: “This has brought down the 94 missing students realised at the yesterday headcount to 48 this morning. We are still hopeful that more are returning soon.”

But bdulhameed Sumonu, the state commissioner of police, contradicted him by saying 111 girls, not the 94 earlier reported, were still unaccounted for.

Addressing journalists in Damaturu, the state capital, Sumonu said: “815 out of the 926 students were physically seen in the school as of Tuesday. There are reports that more girls have returned to the school after the headcount.

The commissioner added there were no reports of abductions nor deaths inside the school.
“I asked the school’s principal if there were abductions or deaths in the school and she said no. I am not unaware of the rumours going on, l want to appeal to the press and the society to please cooperate with the security agencies in this situation.”

However, later on Wednesday evening, the governor in a statement by his director of Press, Abdullahi Begi, said “Out of the 926 students in the school, over 50 are still unaccounted for as of the time of this statement. However, the Yobe State Government has continued to receive information about some of the girls being found in the general area to which they escaped.

“Yobe State Government is working with the Nigerian Army and other security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that all students in the school are fully accounted for.

“As the public is aware, the students were helped by their teachers to escape through the night to the surrounding bush and villages as the terrorists stormed the town last Monday.
The State is coordinating with the army and law enforcement to ensure that those girls are returned safely .

“The Yobe State Government has no credible information yet as to whether any of the schoolgirls was taken hostage by the terrorists.

“His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is deeply saddened and outraged by the unfortunate event and has directed that all relevant personnel and agencies work closely with the army and other security organisations to address the situation.

“The Yobe State Government assures parents and the school community that it will do everything necessary to ensure that all the missing girls are found and returned to their school and families and that security is improved in the area.”

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