Police spokesman gives new details that contradict IGP’s statement on release of Christian Dapchi schoolgirl

The Nigeria police force spokesman Jimoh Moshood, offered new details on Sunday that directly contradict the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

While speaking with reporters on Saturday in Maiduguri, Borno state, the IGP was quoted as saying the insurgents will release Sharibu on Saturday.

“I am supposed to go to Dapchi today (Saturday), but because I learnt that that schoolgirl, Leah, may be released today, that was why I had to shelve my trip to the town.

“You know, I move with helicopter, and by the time I fly into the area, they (Boko Haram) may think I break what the understanding may have been there. So, I have to postpone the visit to Dapchi.”

The Police in a statement Sunday said that the IGP was misunderstood.

“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to the publication on some social media platforms and conventional media indicating that the inspector general of police said the last Dapchi school girl will be released soon,” the statement read.

“The statement of the IGP was misunderstood and misquoted. The misunderstanding may be as a result of the already released Dapchi school girls expected back home in Yobe State today but could not arrive due to weather condition.

“The IGP could not also proceed to Dapchi because of same weather condition.

“The force wishes the members of the public and the media disregard the purported statement as not what the IGP meant. The Force therefore reiterates that it has no information yet on the release of the last Dapchi school girl.”

“There is so much expectation in the town following the news that the last remaining girl will be released,” Kachalla Bukar, father of one of the schoolgirls recently freed, told AFP late Saturday by phone from the town in the northeastern state of Yobe.

“We were told she was on her way but she has not yet been brought,” said Kachalla, who is the spokesman of the abducted schoolgirls’ parents union. The authorities had asked shopkeepers to close Saturday afternoon in anticipation of her arrival.