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Timeline of Chibok Abduction (June 30 – July 5, 2014)

As the Chibok school girls clock three months in the wilderness of oblivion, we bring you a round-off of events surrounding their abduction in the past week…

 

MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2014

Key actor in Chibok girls abduction arrested

Almost three months after Boko Haram terrorists abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, the military announced, on Monday, June 30, 2014, that it has arrested one of the sect’s leaders, who was one of the abductors.

This came on a day the sect members bombed a divisional police headquarters in Shani Local Government Area of Borno State and also attacked an emir’s palace.

The alleged abductor of the Chibok girls, whose name was given as Babuji Ya’ari, was also said to have led the attack in which the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idris Timta, was killed few weeks ago.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja, on Monday, June 30, 2014, that Ya’ari doubled as member of the youth vigilante group, popularly known as Civilian JTF.

According to the defence spokesman, the Boko Haram kingpin used his membership of the Civilian JTF only as a cover, as he has been coordinating deadly attacks in Borno State since 2011.

He added that the arrest of Ya’ari led to the arrest of several other Boko Haram intelligence cell members.

Olukolade said that those arrested had confessed their involvement with the deadly sect and named several others who are being trailed.

 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014

Key actor in Chibok abduction moved to Abuja

Security agencies have moved a suspected Boko Haram leader, Babuji Ya’ari, who was alleged to be one of the masterminds of the kidnap of female pupils from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State to Abuja.

Reports revealed on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, that the Boko Haram leader was moved to Abuja early this week from his Maiduguri base, where he was arrested. A top security source said that Ya’ari was being interrogated in connection with the abduction of the Chibok girls.

He said that security agencies were trying to get information from him that could assist in the release of the girls, who had been in Boko Haram custody for more than 80 days.

The source stated, “I can tell you that the suspect has been moved to Abuja. He was brought to Abuja early this week. He is being interrogated in connection with the abduction of the girls.

According to the source, the General Officer Commanding 7th Division, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. M.Y. Ibrahim, was also at the Defence Headquarters for a strategic security meeting, which might not be unconnected with the arrest of Ya’ari and the ongoing investigation into the abduction of the Chibok girls.

The suspect, who was said to be a businessman, was reported to be under intense interrogation, and he is expected to provide vital information on how the abduction was carried out and give a clue on the location of the girls in Sambisa Forest and other hideouts where the girls were being kept.

 

THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014

We have not communicated as we should

-FINANCE MINISTER

The Federal Government did not adequately communicate with the press about the nearly 300 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State in Nigeria’s North-East, Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala admitted to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday, July 3, 2014.

She said, “This is a very delicate situation with an unpredictable group. And I think that maybe this is one of the areas where we have not been able to communicate as well as we can.”

“The president has two daughters, these children are our children. But we did not communicate that well” she said.

Critics claim that far from just releasing bad information, the government released demonstrably false information. Just days after the kidnapping in April, the Nigerian military announced that all but a handful of the girls had been released; that claim was soon disproved, and the girls are still missing.

In her response, she said, “I don’t know how that happened. The issue now is not whether we are criticized or not criticized unfairly. I think we should forget about all that.”

 

THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014

‘Chibok girls raped and shot while filmed’

-SENATOR ZANNA

Senator Khalifa Ahmed Zanna of Borno Central, made a chilling revelation in an interview with Sahara Reporters, when he said the abducted Chibok girls are being raped while someone films them.

The interview was recorded on June 24, 2014, in New York, USA but was released on Thursday, July 3, 2014. The Senator also spoke about the condition of the girls, conspiracy theories surrounding the extremist militant group, and that the president needs to change priorities.

On the harrowing conditions he believes the Chibok Girls are facing, he said, “Actually, the information I’m getting, some of them are very disturbing. Although I don’t want to mention everything but they are just raping the girls on camera and even showing them on video and releasing it to the public.

Somebody told me that they were shown being raped in turns, it is the girl who was raped that came out kneeling down and begging the man to be patient. Do you know why? They said when they rape them they shoot them…and although I didn’t see the video, the person narrated to me. He said he had the video and look at the situation.

 

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2014

‘7 Chibok girls parents die of trauma’

-KADA chairman, Dr. Bitrus

Nearly three months since members of the notorious terrorist sect, Boko Haram abducted more than 200 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, facts have emerged of how parents of the abducted girls are suffering and dying of heart attack and frustration.

This was revealed by the National Chairman of Kibaku (Chibok) Area Development Association (KADA), Dr. Pogu Bitrus in Abuja on Friday, July 4, 2014.

He made this disclosure at a media conference, where he also accused the Federal Government and security forces of neglecting their responsibilities in protecting lives and properties in Chibok community.

Dr. Bitrus fingered the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh, who, he said has not lived up to his promise of rescuing the girls.

In his words, “While this unfortunate situation persists, many distressed parents are dying of heart attacks and frustration as their dejection has become unbearable. On record, seven parents have lost their lives due to trauma of the situation.”

He also said local vigilance groups have now taken over the responsibilities of security agencies, while soldiers sit back and watch villagers being massacred by the notorious insurgents.

 

-MICHAEL NWOKIKE

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