Yobe governor visits Dapchi, says no girl has been rescued

Yobe state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, has faulted claims that the Nigerian military has rescued 48 out of the 94 girls that have been declared missing from Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state.

The girls went missing after an attack on their school by Boko Haram members on Monday February 19th. There were reports that 48 of the girls have been rescued.


A statement signed by Abdullahi Bego, the Director-General, Press Affairs to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, on Wednesday, claimed that some of the girls were rescued and were in the custody of the Nigerian Army. According to the statement

“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

However, after visiting Dapchi community yesterday February 22nd, the  Governor Gaidam faulted the claim that the Nigerian Army rescued some of the girls. He said, In fact, that none of the abducted girls has been rescued.

A Dapchi resident, Abdul Dapchi, whose two sisters were among the abducted girls, told newsmen that the governo’s revelation got residents of the community angry.

“We were all angry. How could they have deceived us all along?”he said

The Governor is said to have pleaded with the affected family members and the people of the community to keep praying to God for the release of their daughters.