Some of the terrorists holding abducted schoolgirls from Kebbi State have mocked the Nigerian government, claiming that state power played no role in the students’ release and insisting that only discussions with important people made the freedom possible.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the schoolgirls were seen seated on the ground under the watch of armed men, and were asked by their captors to state the current date and year — an apparent attempt to verify the recency of the recording.
Several of the terrorists appeared in the footage wearing what looked like soldiers’ uniforms.
They were also seen with brand-new motorcycles, assault rifles, and other sophisticated weapons.
At one point, a masked militant questioned the students about their welfare, asking whether they had been molested.
The schoolgirls responded in unison: “No.”
“Did we leave you hungry? Did we protect you?” he asked again.
The girls replied, “Yes.”
“We will release you so you can return to your parents peacefully, by God’s grace.
Has anyone here spoken to you maliciously or used sexual words toward you?”
The students answered, “No.”
“All of you are in good condition. By God’s grace, we will release you based on the peace agreement and let you go home.”
The terrorists went further, taunting the Nigerian government for its inability to rescue the girls.
“Since you were kidnapped, how many jets did you see come to rescue you?” he asked.
The students said they did not know.
“You see that the government has found it difficult to rescue you,” he continued.
“We will release you so you can return to your parents peacefully, by God’s grace. All of you are in good condition.”
He added that their release had nothing to do with state efforts.
“The government’s power did not secure your release from us,” he said.
“We are releasing you because there is an ongoing discussion with some important people involved.”
President Bola Tinubu has officially welcomed the release of 24 schoolgirls abducted by terrorists in Maga, Kebbi State, last Monday, and has called on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue others still in captivity.
The girls were taken from their school at dawn on November 17, shortly after a military detachment left the premises.
The attack in Kebbi sparked a wave of copycat kidnappings in Eruku, Kwara State, and Papiri, Niger State.
This was contained in a statement released on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The statement disclosed that President Tinubu commended the security operatives for their relentless efforts in securing the release of the victims.
He urged them to redouble efforts to ensure the rescue of students who remain in the hands of terrorists.
The statement read,
“President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the release today of the 24 schoolgirls abducted by terrorists in Maga Kebbi last Monday.
“Terrorists struck at the school at dawn on November 17 and abducted the girls, moments after a military detachment left the premises.
“The Kebbi incident triggered some other copycat kidnappings in Eruku in Kwara State and Papiri in Niger State.”The statement noted that “all 38 kidnapped victims in Eruku were freed on Sunday”.
“The same day, the Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria said 50 of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger have been found in their parents’ homes,” it said.”
President Tinubu applauded the security agents for all the efforts made to secure freedom for all the victims taken away by the terrorists.”
“I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for.
Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping.
My government will offer all the assistance needed to achieve this,” Tinubu added.
However, the President made no reference to justice for the victims or to holding the terrorists accountable for their actions.
