We don’t have details of kidnapped schoolgirls – FG

The Federal Government on Wednesday said it was not yet in possession of full details of the case of pupils of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State abducted from their school on Monday.



Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said this while answering reporters’ questions after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

Although he said the issue was raised at the meeting, Maku said the council only relied on media reports of the abduction.

The minister however said efforts were ongoing to rescue the pupils and apprehend their abductors.

While condemning the abduction, Maku described it as a call to action for Nigerians who should be ready to work with government and security agencies to nip the activities of criminals in the bud.

He said it was only when Nigerians are united that they could confront the security challenges being witnessed in the country.

He said the council also urged Nigerians to be more vigilant and report suspicious movements around them to security operatives.

The minister said, “On the kidnapped pupils which we condemned, I also know that every effort is being made to locate them and those who kidnapped them.

“Our security services are on manhunt for the girls who have been kidnapped.

“Council did not have the full reports as to the details of how it took place other than media reports, but we will get the details.

“The thing with terrorists is that they go to where you least suspect them to go. They go to areas where they think nobody is looking at, they go to soft target.

“But I know that the awareness is increasing around the country especially in the North East.

“The criminality of kidnapping young children is exactly what makes this group of terrorists in Nigeria may be among the worst in the world. They exhibit complete lack of respect for human lives, complete lack of respect to the basic moral issues.

Maku explained that because of the spread of schools, it was not physically possible for security to be concentrated in every school all over the North East.

This notwithstanding, the minister said government was doing everything to make sure the girls are rescued.

He said government’s greatest concern was to ensure that further harm was not done to the children.