FRI, FEB 21 2020-theG&BJournal- The Amnesty International Thursday Published report from their investigation into the abduction of 110 school girls from the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapci, Yobe State, on 19 February. The report detailed the failure of Nigerian security forces to act on advance warnings that a convoy of Boko Haram fighters was heading towards a town where they abducted the innocent school girls.
Amnesty International revealed that the military failed to respond while Boko Haram conducted an armed raid on the girls’ school ‘’in an assault with chilling echoes of the infamous Chibok girls’ abduction of 2014.’’
‘’The Nigerian authorities must investigate the inexcusable security lapses that allowed this abduction to take place without any tangible attempt to prevent it,’’ Osai Ojigho, Amnesty International’s Nigerian Director said.
‘’As an even greater priority, the government must use all lawful means at its disposal to ensure that these girls are rescued,’’ he said adding that the ‘’authorities appear to have learned nothing from the abduction of 276 school girls in Chibok, Borno State in 2014 and failed to ensure protection for civilians in northeast Nigeria, specifically girls’ schools.’’
‘’A review the Nigerian Army’s actions by Amnesty International’s crisis advisor for military operations also concluded that the military operations was woefully inadequate.’’
The review took into consideration the locations of the soldiers and the time it would take to get to Dapchi, as well as the route taken by Boko Haram.
Amnesty International recalled that in response to the Chibok girls abduction, the Safe School Initiative-which is currently coordinated by the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative-was launched to improve security around schools.
‘’However, no framework seems to be in place to prevent further abductions and it appears that the Nigerian military is unable to protect schools from attacks’’
The report noted- from evidence available to it, that there are insufficient troops deployed in the area, and that an absence of patrols and failure to respond to warnings and engage with Boko Haram contributed to the tragedy.
‘’The Nigerian authorities have failed in their duty to protect civilians, just as they did in Chibok four years ago. Despite being repeatedly told that Boko Haram fighters were heading to Dapchi, it appears that the police and military did nothing to avert the abduction.’’ Osai Ojigho said.
Amnesty International said testimonies from multiple credible sources showed that the Nigerian army and police received multiple calls up to four hours before the raid on Dapchi, but did not take effective measures to stop the abduction or rescue the girls after they were taken by Boko Haram fighters.
‘’The military withdrew troops from the area in January, meaning the closest personnel were based one hour’s drive from Dapchi.
Between 2pm and 6,30pm on 19 February, security forces received at least five calls warning them that the armed group was on their way to Dapchi. The first call was made to the army command in Geidam, 54km from Dapchi, informing them that Boko Haram firghters had been seen at Futchimiram heading to Gumsa, a village about 30km from Dapchi. However, the evidence documented by Amnesty International shows that the military did nothing to engage with Boko Haram and ensure the protection of civilians.’’
A police source in Dapchi told Amnesty International that officer fled because they feared the Boko Haram fighters would over power them.
President Muhammadu Buhari has since ordered an investigation into the response to the abduction.
|twitter:@theGBJournal|email: info@govandbusinessjournal.com.ng|
