Rescue of Dapchi pupils: Information we relied on was not credible – Yobe govt

* Apologises for ‘misinformation’ on schoolgirls

The Yobe State Government has apologised for issuing to the
public, information concerning the alleged abduction and rescue of
111 schoolgirls at Government Girls Science Technical College,
Dapchi.

The government described the information as “unreliable,” and
apologised for it.

A press release signed by the Director-General Press Affairs,
Mr. Abdullahi Bego, and entitled “apology and clarification,”
stated that the information it issued about the matter was provided
by one of the security agencies involved in the fight against Boko
Haram.

The Yobe State Government has since realised that the
information was “unreliable,” and has since apologised for it and
retracted it.

The press release reads: “The public may recall that we issued a
statement last night (Thursday, February 21, 2018) in which we
announced that some of the girls at Government Girls Science
Technical College, Dapchi, who went missing after Boko Haram
terrorists had stormed their school last Monday, were rescued by
officers and men of the Nigerian Army who are currently executing
the war against the Boko Haram insurgents.

“We issued the statement on the basis of information provided by
one of the security agencies that is involved in the fight against
Boko Haram and which we had no reason to doubt.

“We have now established that the information we relied on to
make the statement was not credible. The Yobe State Government
apologises for that.

“His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was in Dapchi today
(Thursday, February 22, 2018), where he met with community leaders
and the principal and staff of the Girls’ College.

“The governor also addressed the parents of some of the
schoolgirls that are still unaccounted for, where he told them to
pray and exercise patience as the government and security agencies
at all levels continue the work to address the unfortunate
situation.

“His Excellency Governor Gaidam has also directed Education
Ministry officials and the school administration to work closely
with the security agencies to establish the actual number of the
girls that are still unaccounted for and to contact parents and the
community for possible information that could be useful in the
investigation.

“His Excellency Governor Gaidam shares deeply and personally in
the grief about the unfortunate event at the Girls’ College and,
under his leadership, the Yobe State Government will continue to do
everything necessary in partnership with security agencies and the
federal government to address the situation.”

* Apologises for ‘misinformation’ on schoolgirls

The Yobe State Government has apologised for issuing to the
public, information concerning the alleged abduction and rescue of
111 schoolgirls at Government Girls Science Technical College,
Dapchi.

The government described the information as “unreliable,” and
apologised for it.

A press release signed by the Director-General Press Affairs,
Mr. Abdullahi Bego, and entitled “apology and clarification,”
stated that the information it issued about the matter was provided
by one of the security agencies involved in the fight against Boko
Haram.

The Yobe State Government has since realised that the
information was “unreliable,” and has since apologised for it and
retracted it.

The press release reads: “The public may recall that we issued a
statement last night (Thursday, February 21, 2018) in which we
announced that some of the girls at Government Girls Science
Technical College, Dapchi, who went missing after Boko Haram
terrorists had stormed their school last Monday, were rescued by
officers and men of the Nigerian Army who are currently executing
the war against the Boko Haram insurgents.

“We issued the statement on the basis of information provided by
one of the security agencies that is involved in the fight against
Boko Haram and which we had no reason to doubt.

“We have now established that the information we relied on to
make the statement was not credible. The Yobe State Government
apologises for that.

“His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was in Dapchi today
(Thursday, February 22, 2018), where he met with community leaders
and the principal and staff of the Girls’ College.

“The governor also addressed the parents of some of the
schoolgirls that are still unaccounted for, where he told them to
pray and exercise patience as the government and security agencies
at all levels continue the work to address the unfortunate
situation.

“His Excellency Governor Gaidam has also directed Education
Ministry officials and the school administration to work closely
with the security agencies to establish the actual number of the
girls that are still unaccounted for and to contact parents and the
community for possible information that could be useful in the
investigation.

“His Excellency Governor Gaidam shares deeply and personally in
the grief about the unfortunate event at the Girls’ College and,
under his leadership, the Yobe State Government will continue to do
everything necessary in partnership with security agencies and the
federal government to address the situation.”