#DapchiGirls Release: At What Cost?

There’s the possibility that the President Muhammadu Buhari government can rebuild its lost trust in Nigerians especially as many of the schoolgirls that were abducted by Boko Haram from a college in Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19, have been returned.

Conflicting reports had filtered in on Wednesday morning indicating that the dreaded Boko Haram sect returned 105 out of the 110 abducted schoolgirls alive. The remaining five were feared dead.

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But the Minister of Information, Alh Lai Mohammed, however, said in a statement that only 76 of the abducted girls were released by the insurgents, implying that 34 of the girls are still with the terrorists.

Although the Federal Government has denied paying ransom to secure the girls’ release, Nigerians on social media have expressed reservations that the government may be hiding something.

The citizens are asking the government to make public whatever it had to give in return for the schoolgirls.

The expressed concerns are not far-fetched especially as previous reports had indicted the Buhari regime of negotiating with Boko Haram to secure the release of some captives.

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Just recently, the Department of State Services (DSS) had reportedly detained the Abuja bureau chief of the Daily Independent, Tony Ezimakor, for divulging details of how the government allegedly paid millions of dollars to terrorists to secure the release 82 abducted Chibok girls.

Also, President Buhari’s recent discussion with the ousted United States Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, had indicated that the government may negotiate with the terrorists to have the Dapchi girls released.

“We are trying to be careful. It is better to get our daughters back alive,” the president had told Tillerson during his visit to the State House in Abuja.

Speaking a few days back, Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, expressed confidence that the abducted Dapchi girls would be released in less than two weeks.

“It can be earlier; maybe a week, it can be two weeks, but we are on it, and I’m telling you with all sense of sincerity that we are closing in on them,” Mansur had said during an interview on Channels Television.

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Meanwhile, some prominent Nigerians have begun to react to the release of the girls.

Political commentator, Japheth Omojuwa, has wondered what the Buhari government must have parted with to get the insurgents to release the abducted girls.

“It must have taken a lot to return the #DapchiGirls in terms of logistics. It would be great to know what Nigeria had to give/do this time to have these girls returned. We are glad they are back but let’s not miss a chance to learn how to do better,” said Omoju.

Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, the co-convener of Bring Back Our Girls campaign, expressed regrets that some of the girls had to die before they could all be released.

“What a real pity. Extremely saddened that even 1 of our #DapchiGirls died in this Entirely Preventable tragedy. Now 5 parents will be grieving these unpardonable deaths.

“Our prayers are with them for God’s COMFORT & PEACE that passes all human understanding,” Mrs Ezekwesili tweeted.

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The former Education Minister said nevertheless, the BBOG group will proceed to sue the Federal government on the circumstances that led the girls’ kidnap.

On his part, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, described the abduction and subsequent release of the schoolgirls as a “scam”.

“Happy that the Dapchi girls are home. Saddened that 5 died. The day the truth comes out about what really happened to the Chibok and Dapchi girls and those that were behind these 2 scams, Nigerians will be shocked and they will spit on the graves of Buhari and his collaborators.”

Below are some other Twitter reactions to the release of the Dapchi girls:

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