Dapchi abduction: How security forces allowed Boko Haram to abduct schoolgirls – Amnesty
that Nigerian security forces got advance warnings that a convoy of
Boko Haram fighters was heading towards Dapchi, a town where 110
schoolgirls were abducted by terrorists on February 19 in an assault
similar to the infamous Chibok girls' abduction of April 2014.
It claimed that no fewer than five calls were put across to security
forces between 2pm and 6:30pm on that fateful day of the abduction of
female pupils from Government Girls Science and Technical College,
Dapchi, Yobe state.
In a report on the incident released yesterday, Amnesty International
said the first call was made to the Nigerian Army Command in Geidam,
54km from Dapchi, informing them that Boko Haram fighters had been
seen at Futchimiram heading to Gumsa, a village about 30km from
Dapchi.
However, the evidence documented by the international group shows that
the military did nothing to stop the insurgents.
"The sighting of an armed convoy at Futchimiram immediately sparked
several phone calls to alert authorities. Sources who informed the
military commander in Geidam at 2p.m. report that he responded to them
by saying he was aware of the situation and was monitoring it.
"At about 3pm, the convoy arrived in Gumsa, where they remained till
5pm. People in Gumsa called Dapchi villagers to warn them that Boko
Haram fighters were on their way. One villager who received such a
call said he informed a police sergeant who promised to notify the
Dapchi Division Police Officer (DPO).
"At about 6:30pm, when residents were heading to the mosque for
evening prayers, Boko Haram members entered Dapchi. Witnesses said
Boko Haram fighters asked for directions to the military post, the
local government office and the girls' school," the report said.
Amnesty learnt from an eyewitness that approximately 50 Boko Haram
fighters stormed Dapchi in a convoy of nine vehicles with Arabic
inscriptions on them. The vehicles included seven Land Cruiser trucks,
one Hilux and a Canter truck.
A police source in Dapchi also told the group that on sighting them,
police officers fled because they feared that the Boko Haram fighters
would overpower them. According to victims and eyewitnesses
interviewed by AI, Boko Haram left Gumsa for Dapchi at about 5pm,
arriving at about 6:30pm.
"They left Dapchi at about 7:30pm in the direction of Gumsa, where
villagers say they arrived at about 9p.m. During the attack, army
officials both in Geidam and Damaturu were again alerted. The military
only arrived in Dapchi shortly after Boko Haram left. Villagers in
Dapchi and Gumsa said a military jet arrived about one hour after Boko
Haram left Dapchi," read the report.
AI lamented that in spite of the several distress calls, the Nigerian
military neither took effective measures to stop the abduction nor
made serious efforts to rescue the girls after they were taken by Boko
Haram fighters.
The Director, Amnesty International in Nigeria, Osai Ojigho,
maintained in a statement that the Nigerian authorities have failed in
their duty to protect civilians, just as they did in Chibok four years
ago.
While describing the inaction as, "inexcusable security lapses",
Ojigho said, "Evidence available to Amnesty International suggests
that there are insufficient troops deployed in the area, and that an
absence of patrols and the failure to respond to warnings and engage
with Boko Haram contributed to this tragedy. The government's failure
in this incident must be investigated and the findings made public and
it is absolutely crucial that any investigation focuses on the root
causes."
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