A week after the attack on a school in Dapchi in north-eastern Nigeria, and after six days of silence and confusion, the number of missing girls is finally clear.
The government confirmed on Sunday that 110 female students were missing after the attack on their school by alleged members of the jihadist group Boko Haram.
One hundred and ten students missing: the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, announced this figure on Sunday, February 25 in the late afternoon. Accompanied by a government delegation, he met with representatives of key stakeholders in Damaturu about 100 kilometres south of Dapchi.
UPDATE: The Federal Government has confirmed that 110 students of the Government Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, are so far unaccounted for, after insurgents believed to be from a faction of Boko Haram invaded their school on Monday 19 February 2018.
— Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov) February 25, 2018
2/ Min of @FMICNigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the figure after a meeting between a FG Delegation & Reps of key stakeholders, including the state government, the college, the parents, security agencies & Bursari local govt, where Dapchi is situated, in Damaturu on Sunday.
— Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov) February 25, 2018
The figure could be established after a meeting with the school principal, family representatives and security agencies. A first delegation was sent on Thursday to Dapchi itself, where the attack took place.
It took almost a week to confirm the number of missing.
On Friday a first list was established by the parents, compiling 105 names only.
A week after the fact, the attack has still not been claimed. Everyone suspects the terrorist organization Boko Haram, responsible for the disappearance of high school girls from Chibok four years ago. But for some observers, the kidnapping may also have been perpetrated by a criminal network motivated by the prospect of a juicy ransom.
5/ The Minister disclosed that the Federal Government has stepped up
efforts to rescue the girls and return them safely to their parents, saying the security agencies are working on many leads regarding the whereabouts of the girls.— Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov) February 25, 2018
Recalled that we reported earlier that no girls in Dapchi found
