Military Interview Escaped Abducted Borno School Girls

Military Intelligence and security agents have interacted with some of the 48 girls who escaped from Boko Haram camps, it was  learnt yesterday.

The escapees were said to have written the school certificate examinations in other schools arranged by the government of Borno State, which is set to submit the list of the abducted students and their photographs to the police to assist the military in tracking them.

The military and security agents quizzed the escapees as part of the ongoing search for their colleagues still being held hostage.

It was learnt that some of the girls made “startling” revelations, including the complicity of some locals in their abduction. This, a source said, will make security agents to grill some teachers in the school.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some of these girls had the interaction on audio and video tapes. The essence of this is to guide the operations of the military and other rescue teams.

“From their submissions, there was complicity of some locals in the abduction because some of the insurgents were known to the girls. Security agents will also look into the activities and records of some teachers in the school.

“All the clues at our disposal are being examined in order to rescue the girls unhurt.”

A top government official confirmed that the girls were taken to different schools to enable them write the examinations.

“We do not want them to lose this opportunity while we are searching for their colleagues.

“We are collaborating with the military and security agents to ensure safe return of the girls.”

As of press time, there were indications that Borno State may release the list of the students and their photographs to the police for onward transmission to Defence Headquarters to assist the military in its rescue operations.”

The official went on: “We have delayed action in releasing the list because in this type of abduction, the girls would have been abused. So, publishing their names and photographs might lead to stigmatization in the society.

“Again, we have reached a stage where we have to lay our cards on the table to ward off insinuations by some people on the actual number of students abducted.”