The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’adu Abubakar, has said the
rigmarole and inconsistencies by the President Mohammadu Buhari’s
administration over the abduction of the Dapchi Girls shows that the
Government is an unserious one.
The Sultan in a statement from the Jama’atu Nasril Islam JNI, signed by
Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu noted that those responsible for security of the
Dapchi Girls should have been jailed by now for failing.
The Statement reads:
The Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of its
President-General, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto received with
absolute shock and amazement the most unfortunate story of the abduction
of school girls at the Government Girls Science Technical Secondary
School, Dapchi, some kilometres away from Damaturu, Yobe State.
This heartless and calamitous but avoidable abduction of school girls is
utterly condemnable in its entirety, especially as it happened when some
of the students were observing their Maghrib (sunset) prayers, others were
breaking their voluntary fast and many others were at the dining hall for
supper. Meaning they were relaxed and comfortable so oblivious of the
tragedy awaiting them.
There must be blame for this, and no one found culpable in this gross
negligence should be spared. In fact, a serious government would have by
now put in jail and suspended all negligent security and political chiefs
who could and should have protected these innocent children, rather than
the rigmarole setting up of an investigative panel. Which most often than
not, such panels/committees report end up on shelves, covered in dust.
Since the unfortunate occurrence of the abduction, JNI has been following
with keen interest events as they unfold in Dapchi. And suffice to state
that a reasonable persons analysis is to conclude that there is apparent
lack of synergy between security operatives in Yobe State, or there is
active connivance with the insurgents, especially if reports of media
altercations between the Army and the Police are anything to go by.
With nostalgia discerning minds could recall that the Chibok abduction is
almost four years now. Yet we are unfortunately visited with yet another
tragic school girls abduction. Is the Chibok girls debacle so long ago in
our memory that we have not learnt anything from it?
Furthermore, is this abduction not a near confirmation of the rumour
making the rounds that security operatives do not want the war on Boko
Haram to end because of the pecuniary benefits they derive therefrom?
Again, why did the Dapchi girls abduction happen months before the 2019
general election, just like the Chibok girls abduction of 2014? Are there
orchestrated plans somewhere to make a case for more security votes?
If there is worse outcome than the abduction itself, it is the fact that
this is the most potent action to frustrate girl-child education in
Northern Nigeria, despite the many enrolment campaign efforts for female
education. No parent now is comfortable especially in the North East to
allow his daughter to go to such callously unprotected schools. And the
North is the loser! Therefore, this is a wakeup call to the quiescent
northern governors.
All of us as parents are still in shock. We must ask: how did the
perpetrators gain access to the school? How come they were not prevented
or intercepted? Does it mean that when they were coming no security or
informants provided any hint?
Arent the security operatives conversant with Sun Tzus Five Types of
Spies in his The Art of War: local, inside, double, doomed and surviving?
And that no one must discover your methods. Indeed there is much more than
meets the eye in the way this Boko Haram insurgency is now being handled!
This is so because before now, the major concern of the citizens of the
BAY States (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) has been that any time people
provided information on suspected insurgents, the informants are hunted
down and many killed within the next 24 hours.
We however commiserate with the families of the Dapchi girls victims and
wish them safe reunion with their respective children. We also pray for
Allahs continuous guidance, strength and stamina to all those on the
battle fields against the Boko Haram insurgents. In the same vein, the
people and Government of Yobe state should not despair; Allah shall
continue to be their strength in-sha-Allah.
In light of the above, we call on Government at all levels to do
everything possible and as a matter of urgency use any means possible to
return our Dapchi and Chibok daughters. Enough should be enough!
The Prayers of the JNI and Nigerian Muslims are therefore that:
Government must spare no effort to immediately return all our abducted
daughters of Chibok, Dapchi and other places. And then an example must be
set – heads must roll for this negligence. Inquiry is NOT the only way to
go;
Government at all levels in collaboration with different security agencies
must rise against the tide of insecurity in whatever guise, through
proactive measures and nipping it in the bud, before it becomes blown off;
We implore all Muslims particularly Imams to continue Qunootun-Nawazil
(special prayers at calamitous periods in the last Rakat of each
obligatory prayer and non-obligatory prayers) seeking Allahs
intervention;
Likewise, fervent observance of Adhkar (remembrance of Allah) should also
be ventured into by all Muslims, as it is a vital tool for easing fears,
tension and uncertainties such as the myriad security challenges
bedeviling Nigeria. Similarly, supplications in Sujood (prostrating
position) in all circumstances are also paramount;
All female secondary schools in the BAY states should be provided with
maximum security;
The remaining final year Dapchi students should be encouraged to write
their respective WAEC and NECO exams, even if it be through an
arrangement, in another environment.
Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu
Secretary General, JNI