UK, US join search for abducted schoolgirls
The Punch on APRIL 27, 2014
Britain and the United States of America have joined the search for the 234 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, by the Boko Haram sect, SUNDAY PUNCH can authoritatively report.
The girls were kidnapped in their hostel on April 14 after members of the sect, pretending to be soldiers, lured the pupils away from their hostel before setting it ablaze.
About 30 of the girls escaped from captivity while about a dozen, who fled into the bush when the sect attacked the school, have since returned to the school.
The military had initially claimed that it had rescued all but 18 of the girls but the school principal, Asabe Kwabura, debunked the statement.
Parents who tried to rescue their children from the Sambisa Forest where the pupils are reportedly being kept by Boko Haram had to turn back when they learnt that the sect was heavily armed and that they might lose their lives in the process.
An enlarged Security Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday directed the military to do everything possible to rescue the schoolgirls.
On Friday, British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said his country had begun talks with Nigeria over the incident.
He stated this in a response made available to our correspondent by the spokesperson of the British High Commission in Abuja, Mr. Robert Fitzpatrick.
Hague said, “The appalling abduction in northern Nigeria on April 14 is a stark reminder of the threat of sexual violence faced by women in conflict prone areas.
“I am very concerned that the majority of the girls are still missing. I spoke to Nigerian Foreign Minister, Wali, about this case on 18 April, and we are talking to Nigerian authorities about how best to assist in their efforts to secure the girls’ release and bring those responsible to justice.”
Similarly, in a response to SUNDAY PUNCH’s inquiry, the Canadian Counsellor in Abuja, Ms. Alexandra Mackenzie, said her country was disturbed by the news of the abducted girls.
She said, “We are very concerned about the case of the kidnapped girls in the North-East.
“The High Commission of Canada is following the development closely here in Nigeria.”
It was further gathered on Friday that the Federal Government had also enlisted the intelligence services of the United States in the search for the abducted pupils.
A competent security source said the Federal Government would rely on the higher technology of the US and UK to facilitate the search for the missing girls.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, stated that there would be no physical presence of operatives of the Western agencies in the operation to rescue the girls.
He added that security operatives engaged in the search for the pupils had made some arrests.
The source did not disclose the number of suspects arrested in relation to the incident.
It was gathered that those arrested included a security guard at the school and some members of the Chibok community, whose names came up during the military’s interaction with some of the girls who escaped from the insurgents.
The source stated, “The whole emphasis is on intelligence gathering; and that is why the Federal Government is contacting the US and the UK to assist in the area of intelligence gathering.
“Another thing you must know is that several arrests have been made, and a lot of efforts are being made.
“The security guard at the school in Chibok is being quizzed and some people from the community too have been arrested,” the source said.
When our correspondent contacted the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, for his comment on the search for the abducted girls, he said, “The search for the girls is being intensified.”
Ethnic violence kills over 30 in Nasarawa
Nigerian Tribune on 27 April, 2014
THE latest violence between Eggon and Gwandara ethnic nationalities in Nasarawa State, on Saturday, claimed more than 30 lives, among whom were little children, Sunday Tribune gathered.
The violent clash allegedly erupted as a result of trespass by some Eggon youths on a piece of land reportedly belonging to the Gwandara tribe.
Investigations by Sunday Tribune revealed that some Eggon youths, who were challenged on why they trespassed on the piece of land, resorted to violence and unleashed terror on any Gwandara man sighted in the area.
The community head of Igga, Mallam Yusuf Alade, who was reported to have been killed in the incident, was said to have intervened in the matter, harping on the need for amicable resolution. But that was not to be, as the Eggon youths, who were said to have laid siege to the town, started burning houses and killing men and children while reportedly sparing women.
Sunday Tribune learnt that the high number of casualties recorded was as a result of a wedding ceremony said to be ongoing in the town, which was attended by men and children who were ambushed and killed.
One of the survivors, who did not want to be named, said the military men were the first to arrive the area. But it was too late, as the attackers had fled the area before their arrival. The soldiers were also said to have conveyed the wounded to Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.
When contacted on phone on Saturday, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ismaila Numan, confirmed the incident, but said only five persons were killed in the crisis. He added that the police had begun investigation into the crisis, noting that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
Gunmen kill LG cashier, 2 others in Sokoto
In another development, unknown gunmen stormed the personal residence of the cashier of Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Alhaji Lawal Aliyu, where they slaughtered him and set the house and his car ablaze.
The number of the gunmen was not known at the time of filing this report, but they were said to have struck in the early hours of Saturday, asking after the cashier who was said to have gone into hiding when he sensed danger.
He was, however, said to have been forced out when the gunmen snatched his infant child from his mother, threatening to slaughter the infant if he failed to come out of hiding.
When he heard the child crying, Sunday Tribune learnt that Aliyu emerged from hiding into the waiting hands of the assailants, who sliced his throat open.
It was also learnt that two other people who attempted to help the late cashier were gunned down by the killers.
The spokesman of the Sokoto State police command, DSP Almustapha Sani, who confirmed the incident, however, said the cashier was shot to death and not slaughtered, adding that investigation has commenced into the incident.
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