Nigeria’s armed forces have formally issued a retraction to the unfolding story of the kidnapping of more than 100 female students in the country’s northeast Monday.
The statement, issued by Chris Olukolade, a Major General who also serves as Coordinator, and the Director of Defense Information, centers on a discrepancy of fact, and concerns a mis-quote from the School Principal whose students were abducted in the Monday siege. In an attempt to set the record straight, Olukolade’s statement reads as follows:
The controversy that has been generated around the efforts at securing the lives of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok is unfortunate. The ongoing frantic efforts of security forces along with vigilante groups including hunters working to locate and free the abducted students have continued to be keenly monitored at the Operation Centre of the Defense and Army Headquarters as regular progress reports are being received from troops on the ground.
In this regard, a report was filed in from the field indicating that a major breakthrough had been recorded in the search. There was no reason to doubt this official channel, hence the information was released to the public immediately. Surprisingly however, the school principal, one of the sources quoted in the report has denied all that was attributed to her for whatever reasons. This is an unfortunate development indeed, yet the Defense Headquarters would not want to join issues with anyone.
It has to be reaffirmed however, that the report forwarded to the public on this issue was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public as is being interpreted following the denials by the School principal and Government of Borno State. Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive. There is indeed no reason to play politics with the precious lives of the students. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious.
In the light of the denial by the principal of the school, the Defense Headquarters wishes to defer to the school principal and Governor’s statement on the number of students still missing and retract that aspect of earlier statement while the search continues.
CHRIS OLUKOLADE
Major General
Director Defence Information/Coordinator
Indeed, the search does continue, with the Nigerian military’s retraction of quotes extraordinary in its timing. The story of the still missing female students remains a top priority for all military personnel, school officials, and the parents of the students.
Boko Haram’s attack on the school has generated world-wide attention, including a recent statement from the UN, that calls for anyone with leads on the whereabouts of the missing students, to step forward.
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