‘My Sister Is Still Missing:’ Dapchi Schoolgirl, Others Narrate Experience

 
The last thing the people of Yobe expected on the fateful day of February 19, 2018, was the abduction of their daughters.
But this exactly was what happened at Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) located in Dapchi, Bursari Local Government area of the state.
Yobe State, Dapchi community, is still in dismay sequel to the visit of unwanted Boko Haram terrorists who invaded the school and left a hole in the heart of the community till present day.
Dapchi is 100kilometers north of Damaturu, the state capital, and it remains one major town that before now, have not experienced an attack by the Boko Haram insurgents.
In the wake of the attack, one of the schoolgirls and a matron of the school in an exclusive interview with Channels Television gave dramatic recollection of how the abduction happened.
 
‘My Younger Sister Is Still Missing’

One of the students of GGSTC who was among the few girls that narrowly escaped from the hands of the terrorists spoke exclusively to Channels Television. Hafsat Lawan, who spoke in Hausa language said many other girls, including her younger sister, are still missing.
“Some of us ran away while somewhere held by the insurgents as they kept threatening us to come to them unless they will kill us. Presently my younger sister among several others are yet to be found,” she explained.
 
We Thought It Was An Electrical Fault – Matron   
 
The matron of the school, Hadiza Jibo in her account of the sad incident said it occurred when they were preparing for evening prayers.
She said, “It was dawn when we were preparing for the evening prayers when suddenly we started hearing shootings. The students were saying it was an electrical fault but it became severe and students started running helter-skelter.”
 
They Came In About 10 Lorries – Lawmaker

A lawmaker from Yobe State, Honourable Goni Bukar in a phone-in conversation with Channels Television also narrated how the abduction occurred. He said the insurgents came in about 10 lorries.
“The first time when they came in, they came in like 10 lorries. They divided themselves into various groups, came into the school and picked some of the students. Some of the students ran away into the bush. So that’s why some are reporting 100 while some are reporting 30 missing,” Bukar said.
 
Boko Haram Wants To Embarrass The Govt – Lai Mohammed
 
The report of the attack led to the visit of Federal Government officials to Yobe State two days later for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed during a visit to Dapchi said Boko Haram insurgents have been overpowered by the military and only intend to embarrass the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
“What they intend to do is to embarrass the government. Their power has gone down completely, they have been pushed out of Sambisa and they now want oxygen. Their oxygen is publicity. This is what they are looking for, something that will get attention,” Lai Mohammed said.
 
It Is A National Disaster – President Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari in his reaction to the sad tale of the abduction said it is a national disaster. He said the entire nation stands as one with the victims.
“The entire country stands as one with the girls’ families, the government and the people of Yobe State.
“This is a national disaster. We are sorry that this could have happened and share your pain. We pray that our gallant armed forces will locate and safely return your missing family members.”
 
 
Many Questions Still Unanswered:

The abduction of the schoolgirls has left parents of the missing girls and the country in a utter dismay with many questions yet to be answered.
Local residents and parents claim that over 100 girls are missing while Yobe State government in a statement said out of the 926 students in the school, over 50 are still unaccounted for. How many girls were actually abducted from GGTC?
Dapchi is a major town in Yobe state. It has a military base, divisional police station among other social amenities. Where were the security operatives who were meant to protect such venerable targets when this attack lasted?
posted by CAMPUS94