TheCable

Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), led by Sa’ad Abubakar III, sultan of Sokoto, says a serious government should have jailed security heads found negligent in the abduction of schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe state.

Over 100 schoolgirls have been missing since suspected Boko Haram insurgents invaded Government Girls’ Science Technical Secondary School, Dapchi.

In a statement on Thursday, Abubakar Khalid-Ailyu, JNI’s secretary-general, said there is a lack of synergy between security operatives in Yobe.

Khalid-Ailyu wondered if the abduction of the schoolgirls was a way to make case for more security votes.

“The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of its president-general, His Eminence, the sultan of Sokoto has 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,” the statement read.

“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 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 person’s 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.

“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?

“We however commiserate with the families of the Dapchi girls’ victims and wish them safe reunion with their respective children. We also pray for Allah’s continuous guidance, strength and stamina to all those on the battle fields against the Boko Haram insurgents.”

He said government must do all it takes to rescue the abducted schoolgirls.