The Borno State government yesterday said it would publish the names and pictures of the abducted girls, if permitted.
Governor Kashim Shettima spoke yesterday in reaction to a statement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Leader Mrs. Kema Chikwe doubting if the girls were actually abducted.
A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Isa Gusau, reads: “We have read with very rude shock, media reports attributed to National Women Leader of the PDP, raising doubts on whether indeed, schoolgirls were abducted at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok on April 14, 2014 or not. This is clear case of bringing politics into a serious national issue that bothers on the lives of over 200 schoolgirls which is highly unfortunate.
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Follow ALL the stories on the Borno School Girls’ Abduction HERE.
“We find that report a big affront that undermines the National Security Council which held a meeting that dwelled extensively on the matter with a directive to the armed forces to rescue the girls. By her remark, Chikwe has undermined the integrity of all of Nigeria’s security forces because her questions appear to mean that the security agencies in the country do not know what they are doing for holding a National Security Council meeting and deliberating on something that was doubtful and yet giving directives to address it. This incident happened 17 days ago, every Nigerian expects that by now, the security agencies must have been carrying out investigations that might have included debriefing some of the girls that escaped from captivity, speaking with parents and other students of the schools. Chikwe’s remark seems to attack the integrity of the security agencies, giving the impression that nothing was done.
“The school was virtually razed now, security agencies know this and they know that the attack and abduction took place. The Defence Headquarters have issued several statements including one that says forces were closing in on the abductors; we therefore wonder why Chikwe should make mockery of all of these patriotic efforts.
“Even though most of the school buildings were razed during that attack and property vandalised, records of schoolgirls that registered for WAEC and NECO exams cannot be a difficult one to get since the examination bodies are there with records. In addition to that, parents lodged complaints that should naturally have the names of their children or wards. It is expectedly thought that security agencies would by now, have necessary information about these girls which might include their records. However, the Borno State Government has a comprehensive data that includes pictures of the missing students and those that returned, which the Government is ready to publish on Friday, May 2, 2014 if the Defence Headquarters which has since been managing information on counter insurgency operations in the Northeast, gives the go ahead and Mrs Chikwe, who now knows more than the security can ensure that.”
