One of the girls who escaped Boko Haram attack, at Government Girls’ Science and Technical College Dapchi, Faiza Mohammed, said she will not go back to school except the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai becomes the gateman of the college.
While speaking to newsmen, Faiza stressed the need for authorities to beef up security in the school to allay fears.
She gave a graphic account of the experiences they went through in the process of shielding their presence from the marauding Boko Haram terrorists.
She also disclosed that one of her classmates was bitten by a snake as they tried to escape their way through the bushes in the night to unknown destination.
Faiza, who hailed the efforts of their teachers during the attack, noted that, “our teachers tried to keep us together. They tried their best to control us not to scatter into the bush but some stubborn students started jumping the fence to run into the bush. There were some of us that hide into nearby houses from the school”.
“I told my mother that I will not go back to that school again except Buratai is the gateman. But my sisters Daughter told me that my demands are impossible because Buratai cannot come down to Dapchi to become gateman at my school. What I simply want is for government to provide for us enough security.”
“Because of what my sister said, I will go back but if I see no security, I will just come back and study at home and write my final exams and my JAMB,” Faiza said. Meanwhile, Yobe State Government has closed down the school for one week.
…Buhari sends 3 ministers to Yobe
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the ministers of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Information, Lai Mohammed; and Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to go to Dapchi village in Yobe to assess the reported abduction of school girls.
Mohammed disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
The meeting, which was held at the State House Council Chamber yesterday, was presided by President Buhari.
He said the President had also directed military and other security agencies to take immediate charge and control of Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe, where the incident occurred.
“Mr President has directed military and other security agencies to take immediate charge and control of Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, and inform him of developments.
“He has released a delegation led by the Minister of Defence to Dapchi, to get first hand information as to what is happening.
“Others in the delegation are Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Information,’’ he said
According to the minister, the president is monitoring the situation through direct contact with the military and police. He said Nigerians will be constantly briefed on developments.
The police in Yobe had on Tuesday confirmed an attack on the school in Dapchi, Bursari Local Government Area of Yobe, by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.
The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Abdulmaliki Sumonu, told Premium Times on Wednesday that 30 of the over 900 female students were still unaccounted for.
…Military rescued abducted school girls inside bush
The Nigerian Military have rescued the abducted Yobe school girls, Wednesday night.
They were rescued at Jilli-Muwarti, a border village between Gaidam in Yobe and Borno states.
It is still unclear how many of the girls were rescued.
The Director-General Press Affairs to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, Abdullahi Bego, said the girls were currently in the custody of the Nigerian military.
“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.
“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,” ?he said.
The students are expected to undergo 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.
…Saraki condemns attack
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday, condemned in strong terms the attack on Government Girls Secondary School, Dapchi, in Yobe State by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
Saraki in statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the attack as one too many even as he urged the security agencies to get to the root of the matter, bring the perpetrators to book and ensure that all students of the school are properly accounted for.
He called on security agencies to reinforce security around academic institutions in the country in order to prevent criminal elements from taking advantage of such soft targets to disrupt academic activities and wreck havoc at a time the Federal Government is working assiduously to end the incidents of terror in the Northeast and other flash points in the country.
He also urged the security agencies to be proactive in protecting lives and property in the country and also ensuring that accurate information about attacks such as the one recently witnessed in Dapchi, Yobe State, is promptly made available to members of the public to prevent unnecessary speculation and panic by family members of victims and citizens alike.
He expressed sympathy with the affected students, parents, school authorities and the government and people of Yobe State over the unfortunate incident.
