Troops last night rescued Government Girls Science Technical
College (GGSTC) Dapchi, Yobe State, pupils who were
reportedly kidnapped by Boko Haram.
The school was attacked on Monday night by the terrorists,
who took away some of the girls. The state government put
the figure of the girls that were missing at 50.
A statement last night by Abdullahi Bego, Spokesman to
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, said: “The Yobe State Government
hereby informs the public that some of the girls at
Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) whose
school was attacked by Boko Haram terrorists last Monday
have been rescued by gallant officers and men of the
Nigerian Army from the terrorists who abducted them.
“The rescued girls are now in the custody of the Nigerian
Army.
“We will provide more details about their number and
condition in due course.
“Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, who is very grateful for the
gallantry and hard work of the officers and men of the
Nigerian Army involved in the operation, is monitoring the
situation closely and will make a statement in due course.”
President Muhammadu Buhari directed security agencies to
take immediate charge of the situation in Government Girls
Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State where 50 pupils are
missing following Monday’s attack by Boko Haram terrorists.
Dapchi is 100 kilometres from Damaturu, the Yobe State
capital. It is 75 kilometres south of the Nigerian border with
Niger Republic.
Minister of Information Lai Mohammed told reporters after
the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that the
President also directed the Minister to Defence Mansur Dan-
Ali, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, and
himself to proceed to Yobe State today on a fact-finding
mission.
He said: “Mr. President has directed military and other
security agencies to take immediate charge and control of
Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, and inform him
of developments.
The Yobe State Government, in an initial statement by
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam’s spokesman  Abdullahi Bego, said:
“Following the incursion of suspected Boko Haram terrorists
into Dapchi, headquarters of Bursari Local Government
Council and the Government Girls Science Technical College
(GGSTC) there, the Yobe State Government is working with
the Nigerian Army and other security and law enforcement
agencies to ensure that all students in the school are fully
accounted for.
“As the public is aware, the students were helped by their
teachers to escape through the night to the surrounding bush
and villages as the terrorists stormed the town last Monday.
“Out of the 926 students in the school, over 50 are still
unaccounted for as of the time of this statement. However,
the Yobe State Government has continued to receive
information about some of the girls being found in the
general area to which they escaped.
“The state government is coordinating with the army and law
enforcement to ensure that those girls are returned safely.
“The Yobe State Government has no credible information yet
as to whether any of the schoolgirls was taken hostage by the
terrorists.
“His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is deeply saddened
and outraged by the unfortunate event and has directed that
all relevant personnel and agencies work closely with the army
and other security organisations to address the situation.
“The Yobe State Government assures parents and the school
community that it will do everything necessary to ensure that
all the missing girls are found and returned to their school
and families and that security is improved in the area.”