Gerard Izuora
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday said a recent report issued by Amnesty International (AI) has vindicated its stance that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) must be held responsible for the abduction that took place in Dapchi.
Over 100 school girls were abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Dapchi, Yobe State. They are yet to be rescued by the Nigerian authorities.
The party in a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the revelation by AI that security forces got advance warning of the impending attack but failed to prevent the abduction as ”heartrending, distressing and disappointing”.
The report by AI stated that: “The Nigerian authorities have failed in their duty to protect civilians, just as they did in Chibok four years ago. Despite being repeatedly told that Boko Haram fighters were heading to Dapchi, it appears that the police and military did nothing to avert the abduction.”
The PDP said the revelation had further showed the ineptitude of the present government.
“This revelation by the Amnesty International has finally exposed Buhari-led Federal Government and its manifest failures, deceptions and culpability in the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate abduction of our daughters.
“The world can now see why the Presidency and APC have been suppressing information on the abduction and why no firm steps have been taken to unravel the real reasons behind security lapses like the withdrawal of troops from the area as well as those behind the false rescue report, which frustrated the genuine effort to save our daughters.
“From the AI report, it is clear that if the troops guarding the area, under the command of the Buhari-led Federal Government, were not withdrawn, and if President Buhari had effectively monitored the situation and implemented the Safe School Initiative, introduced in the wake of the 2014 Chibok abduction, the Dapchi schoolgirls would not have been abducted.
“The revelation by this international body has further reinforced our demand that the National Assembly should immediately conduct an independent, comprehensive and system-wide inquest to unravel the truth about this abduction, as many Nigerians still believe that there is more than meet the eyes in this Dapchi abduction saga.”
The Federal Government recently assured Nigerians that the girls would soon be rescued.