PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered four ministers
to proceed to Dapchi in Yobe for an update on the release of the
female students abducted in February.
The Ministers include Mansur Dan-Ali, Defence; Abdulrahman
Danbazau, Interior; Lai Mohammed, Information; and Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim.
The four ministers left the weekly Federal Executive Council
(FEC) meeting for the trip to Dapchi.
Before their departure, the Information Minister confirmed that
76 of the released girls had been documented.
According to him, when the girls were dropped in their school by
the abductors many of them went straight home to reunite with their
parents.
“I can confirm that the Dapchi girls have been returned, what we
can confirm to you is that Mr President did actually assure
Nigerians that the abducted girls would be released, but he also
said that violence and confrontation would be ruled out.
“Based on that, the Federal Government with the support of
friendly countries embarked on back term negotiations; this back
term negotiation has led to the release of these girls.
“What I can confirm today is that these girls were released
yesterday, but on the conditions, number one is that they were
released unconditionally; no money changed hands.
“Number two, they had one condition to return them to where they
picked them.
“So in the early hours of today they did return the girls but of
course, most of the girls went to their parents’ homes,’’ Mohammed
stated.
According to him, efforts are now being made to document all the
girls, adding that at the moment, 76 of them have been documented
while “they are still more.’’
He promised to give an update on the incident from time to
time.
“It is a day of joy for Nigerians. What I can assure you is that
Mr president has kept his promise.
“The girls have been released and we will tell you exactly in a
few hours time how many of them have been documented.
“They were not molested,’’ he added.
Also, Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali attributed the early
release of the girls to “the effort of the President and
Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces for the support he has been
giving us and the output is showing now.”
On the negotiations, the minister said that while it was being
planned the government was prepared to move to a position of
strength.
Also Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadijat
Abba-Ibrahim said: “I am very excited today. That is what I feel
because the Dapchi girls have been released.
“We are very happy. We have achieved what we have gone out to
achieve and we thank the Almighty God for his mercies.”
She declined to mention if any of the girls was killed.
“As far as I know now, they are taking a roll call so we cannot
ascertain how many have passed on, but we will find out later on
what the casualties are.’’
The minister advised parents not to be discouraged by the
incident but to continue encouraging their female children to
embrace education.
“I will advise parents to continue sending their children to
school.
“We as a government will fortify the schools to make sure that
they are safe for the children to actually go and learn,’’ Mrs
Abba-Ibrahim said.
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered four ministers
to proceed to Dapchi in Yobe for an update on the release of the
female students abducted in February.
The Ministers include Mansur Dan-Ali, Defence; Abdulrahman
Danbazau, Interior; Lai Mohammed, Information; and Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim.
The four ministers left the weekly Federal Executive Council
(FEC) meeting for the trip to Dapchi.
Before their departure, the Information Minister confirmed that
76 of the released girls had been documented.
According to him, when the girls were dropped in their school by
the abductors many of them went straight home to reunite with their
parents.
“I can confirm that the Dapchi girls have been returned, what we
can confirm to you is that Mr President did actually assure
Nigerians that the abducted girls would be released, but he also
said that violence and confrontation would be ruled out.
“Based on that, the Federal Government with the support of
friendly countries embarked on back term negotiations; this back
term negotiation has led to the release of these girls.
“What I can confirm today is that these girls were released
yesterday, but on the conditions, number one is that they were
released unconditionally; no money changed hands.
“Number two, they had one condition to return them to where they
picked them.
“So in the early hours of today they did return the girls but of
course, most of the girls went to their parents’ homes,’’ Mohammed
stated.
According to him, efforts are now being made to document all the
girls, adding that at the moment, 76 of them have been documented
while “they are still more.’’
He promised to give an update on the incident from time to
time.
“It is a day of joy for Nigerians. What I can assure you is that
Mr president has kept his promise.
“The girls have been released and we will tell you exactly in a
few hours time how many of them have been documented.
“They were not molested,’’ he added.
Also, Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali attributed the early
release of the girls to “the effort of the President and
Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces for the support he has been
giving us and the output is showing now.”
On the negotiations, the minister said that while it was being
planned the government was prepared to move to a position of
strength.
Also Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadijat
Abba-Ibrahim said: “I am very excited today. That is what I feel
because the Dapchi girls have been released.
“We are very happy. We have achieved what we have gone out to
achieve and we thank the Almighty God for his mercies.”
She declined to mention if any of the girls was killed.
“As far as I know now, they are taking a roll call so we cannot
ascertain how many have passed on, but we will find out later on
what the casualties are.’’
The minister advised parents not to be discouraged by the
incident but to continue encouraging their female children to
embrace education.
“I will advise parents to continue sending their children to
school.
“We as a government will fortify the schools to make sure that
they are safe for the children to actually go and learn,’’ Mrs
Abba-Ibrahim said.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/buhari-dispatches-4-ministers-to-dapchi/