Global human rights organization, Amnesty International (AI), on Friday, May 9, 2014, made a chilling revelation, indicting the Nigerian military for the kidnap of the Chibok school girls.
The group said the military had at least a 4-hour prior warning of the Chibok attack, but did not do enough to stop it.
According to a report by AI, sources said that local patrols (known as vigilantes, setup by the military and local authorities) in a neighbouring village, were among the first to raise the alarm on the evening of April 14, 2014.
The locals, AI’s report further revealed, alerted officials including the Borno State governor, and senior military commanders based in Maiduguri, after a large group of unidentified armed men entered their village on motorbikes and said they were headed to Chibok. The global body said Nigerian military sources confirmed being warned of the attack.
NIGERIAN MILITARY RESPONDS, FAULTS AI’S REPORT
The Nigerian military has, however, responded to the report of Amnesty International, saying it was false. The director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, in a statement said AI’s allegation is very unfortunate and untrue.
Mr. Olukolade noted that while the Nigerian military appreciates global concern with Nigeria, falsehood must be avoided.
US, UK, FRANCE, OTHERS OFFER ASSISTANCE
It appears the world’s attention has been drawn to Nigeria’s plight. The Chibok kidnap saga has placed Nigeria in the spotlight, exposing its inadequacies, especially in security.
Following this, the international community has offered to assist Nigeria in finding the missing girls. The United States of America set the ball rolling on what turned out to be an outpouring of global assistance for Nigeria. After the US made its offer to assist Nigeria, France, China and Israel have followed suit.
They have all now sent teams of counter-terrorism officials and other specialists to Abuja.
The teams are already in the country with their extensive array of satellites, sharing commercial satellite imagery with Nigeria. The US in particular is said to be flying manned ISR (intelligence and surveillance) assets over Nigeria.
SECT RELEASES VIDEO SHOWING ABDUCTED GIRLS
On Monday, May 12, 2014, the notorious sect-Boko Haram released a video clip showing the missing Chibok girls. Of the 276 missing girls, only 136 were captured in the clip, dressed in Islamic gear and chorusing recitations from the Quran.
Leader of the fundamentalist sect, Abubakar Shekau, claimed in the video clip that the girls had been converted from Christians to Muslims.
REACTIONS TRAIL THE VIDEO CLIP
Mixed reactions have trailed the video released by the sect, showing 136 girls who they claimed were the missing Chibok girls.
Some analysts are of the opinion that the girls in the video appear younger than the ones that escaped. Others disagreed, saying that the girls cannot be expected to look the same, bearing in mind that young people of similar ages differ in appearance.
Another matter that arose from the video was the issue that the girls appeared too calm to be hostage victims. Those who towed this line of thinking referred to hostage victims held in other similar situations. As expected, other disagreed with this notion, saying that the girls, considering their ages, were too frightened to question any orders issued to them. Therefore, they had to accept their fate and act calm.
PARENTS IDENTIFY 54 GIRLS FROM THE VIDEO
Since the release of the video by the Boko Haram sect, the Borno State government has reportedly embarked on an identification exercise, in a bid to identify the girls shown in the video.
The exercise held in Maiduguri (Borno State capital) involved parents of the missing girls, the escaped girls, teachers from the school and Chibok security operatives.
Here is list of the identified girls:
1. Agnes Gafane
2. Saraya Stober
3. Hauwa Bitrus
4. Hajra Isa
5. Naomi Philemon
6. Hauwa Abdu
7. Margaret Yama
8. Shitta Abdu
9. Jummai Nuta
10. Ladi Paul
11. Roda Peter
12. Filo Dauda
13. Godiya Bitrus
14. Saratu Tauji
15. Ross Daniel
16. Hauwa Ali
17. Hajara Isa
18. Luba Afga
19. Naomi Lika
20. Saraya Emos Alli
21. Bilkisu Abdullahi
22. Mairama Maiyanga
23. Deborah Abbas
24. Kabu Mala
25. Halma Ali
26. Mairama Ali
27. Yana Bukar
28. Solomi Pugu
29. Lydia Fumar
30. Luba Sanda
31. Saraya Habila
32. Rejoice Shanki
33. Gloria Yaga
34. Mercy Nkoki
35. Moda Baba
36. Hauwa Isuwa
37. Patience Jacob
38. Ladi Jajel
39. Comfort Habila
40. Abigel Bukar
41. Fanta Lawan
42. Zainabu Yaya
43. Aisha Lawan Zanna
44. Kabu Mala
45. Maryama Bashir
46. Hauwa Maina
47. Mary G. Dauda
48. Susana Yakubu
49. Maryam Abbas
50. Laraba John
51. Hanatu Nuhu
52. Naomi Bukar
53. Rifkatu Galang
54. Dokas Yakubu
– MICHAEL NWOKIKE