News From MDA'S

DSS DG calls for more security at northeast schools in address to President Buhari

257
DG DSS
ADDRESS BY DGSS ON HIS PRESENTATION OF THE RELEASED DAPCHI SCHOOL GIRLS TO THE PRESIDENT
Protocols
May I formally and respectfully present to Mr President, the released Dapchi School girls. I wish to inform Mr. President that one hundred and five (IO5) out of one hundred and eleven (III) female students abducted from the the Government Girls’ Science Technical College, Dapchi on 19 February, 2018 were released two days ago (21 March, 2018) following painstaking, backchannel dialogue with their abductors.

However, before you today Mr. President are two additional young Primary School pupils namely; Hafsat HARUNA, eleven years old and Primary Six pupil and Mala Maina BUKAR, thirteen (3) years old also, a Primary Six pupil.

The remaining six (6) Dapchi girls are yet to be accounted for, and dialogue on these students is still on-going.

NEGOTIATION PROCESS

2. It may be recalled that the President had given a clear directive to security agencies to use peaceful options to ensure the timely and safe release of the girls. What followed were intense behind the scene dialogue spearheaded by the Department of State Services.

The insurgents’ only condition was their demands for cessation of hostilities and temporary ceasefire to enable them return the girls at the point they picked them.

They required assurances that the government security forces would keep to this.

3. The exercise was arduous and quite challenging. The sensitivity of the operation and some uncertainties surrounding it particularly routes to be used, nature of transportation, realization and concern that the girls were not kept at one place, issues of encountering Military checkpoints within the theater and indeed keeping the operation on strictly the “Principles of Need-to-Know” made the whole exercise more complicating

4. Beyond the release of the abducted girls, our primary interest for engaging in the dialogue was informed by the following:

i. Permanent, possible cessation of hostilities.
ii. Discussing the fate of the arrested insurgents and innocent Nigerian citizens being held hostage
iii. Possibility of granting amnesty to repentant insurgents.

5. These presently seem problematic because the insurgents are factionalized while holding various spheres of influence in their guerrilla controlled enclaves. The negative impact of social media on otherwise classified operations and of course, some of the utterances of the government functionaries who were not competent to comment on the issues, posed challenges that almost marred the rescue efforts.

6. However, despite these challenges, the Service has managed to successfully conclude the operation leading to the release of the abducted Dapchi School girls that are now before you, Mr. President.

STATE OF THE GIRLS AND MEDICAL CARE

7. On release, the victims were taken into the DSS medical facility and are put through programmes to give them mental stability. As such, they are given psychological mental evaluation conducted by trained specialists. About four (4 who were discovered to have broken limbs and were sent for Xray. Almost all of them had one skin infection or the other having not taken bath for over a month. They have been medically examined, and those with ailments were treated The measures are to ensure that they are in good health.

FAMILY ACCESS

8. The girls, including four (4) representatives of their School (the Principal and Vice) as well as, their parents were brought into the medical facility as part of measures to relieve tension and anxiety. The presence of these representatives have further re-assured and stabilized the girls.

WAY FORWARD

9. Mr. President, in view of the Nation’s experience through these years of insurgency, it is humbly suggested that efforts be sustained towards

i. Ensuring the release of all abducted persons in the North East Theatre of Operation
ii. Improve the strategic plan for the safety of schools in vulnerable locations, using all available national assets.
iii. Improve on the coordination efforts amongst security agencies to avoid future incidents.
iv. Expand the current dialogue towards conflict mitigation and resolution, with a view to getting an everlasting peace for the entire sub-region.

CONCLUSION.

The feat so far recorded in the release of the victims is a clear example of collaboration among security agencies. First, let me express our profound appreciation to Mr. President for his direction and maximum support throughout the process of this dialogue. Also, I wish to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed forces and the Police, our friendly neighbours and international partners who have played key roles in our determination to rid our beloved country of the menace of terrorism. Once again, may I thank Mr. President for the opportunity to present the recently released Dapchi School girls and re-assure you Sir, that the various services would continue to work in tandem to ensure the safety of our schools and other national assets. We remain thankful to you for your continuous support and hereby assure you of our unalloyed loyalty.
Thank you, Sir

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Nigeria Customs Service Exceeds 2024 Revenue Target, Rakes in N5.7trn

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a remarkable revenue generation of...

NPA set to link export processing terminals with domestic export warehouses

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has unveiled plans to connect Export Processing...

NAGAFF Taps NPA MD, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, as Keynote Speaker for Silver Jubilee Anniversary

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has announced Dr....

NPA MD Repositions Agency, Appoints New Managers, Redeploys General Managers

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced new appointments and redeployments of...

Breaking: FG back dates minimum wage payment to July 29, 2024

The Federal Government’s Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries has agreed to...

FG grants 50% electricity subsidy to hospitals nationwide

The Federal Government has granted a 50 percent subsidy on electricity consumption...

NPA deepens bilateral ties with Belgium for increased port efficiency, trade volume growth

In preparation for the President Bola Tinubu administration’s National Single Window Project,...

Pres. Tinubu appoints new Directors-General for DSS, NIS

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointments of new Directors-General for the...

Breaking: NIA DG, Rufai Abubakar quits

After about a seven-year stint as Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency...

FG inaugurates 10-member committee on implementation of Supreme Court’s LG autonomy ruling 

The Federal Government has established a 10-member committee to implement the Supreme...

Eastern Ports Development: NPA committed to implementing electronic call-up at Onne Port Complex – MD

Following the directive of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr....

NPA MD appoints new port managers for Calabar, Lagos, Port Harcourt others

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced seven new port managers for...

Breaking: Tinubu swears in Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack as new Head of Civil Service

President Bola Tinubu has formally inaugurated Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack as the new...

Tinubu appoints commissioners for RMAFC, board members for TETFund

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of 21 Nigerians as federal...

Pres. Tinubu appoints 7 heads of FG agencies

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday appointed new heads for strategic agencies...

Pension increases: PENCOM faults FG’s omission of pensioners under CPS

The National Pension Commission has warned the Federal Government against the violation...

Nigeria, U.S. Customs partner to combat illicit drug, arms trade using AI

The Federal Government has concluded plans to curb illicit trade in drugs...

As economy bites harder, FG reduces allowances for foreign students

The Federal Ministry of Education, acting on behalf of the Federal Government,...

Why FG injected N1trn palliatives into manufacturing sector – Finance Minister Edun

The Federal Government has disclosed that a total sum of N1 trillion...

Senate confirms Ewalefoh as new DG of ICRC

The Senate confirmed on Tuesday the appointment of Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh...