The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) an umbrella group for the Muslim community in Nigeria has said that the abduction of Dapchi school girls is one tragedy too many and that ‘enough should be enough!’

JIN in a statement on Thursday condemned the abduction of the school girls saying that it was ‘heartless and calamitous but avoidable’ and enjoined the Fededral Government and others to do everything possible to see to return the Dapchi and Chibok daughters.

The group further said that: ‘a reasonable person’s analysis is to conclude that there is apparent lack of synergy between security operatives in Yobe State, or there is active connivance with the insurgents, especially if media reports on altercations between the Army and the Police are anything to go by.’

Sandals are strewn in the yard of the Government Girls Science and Technical College staff quarters in Dapchi, Nigeria, on February 22, 2018. AFP PHOTO /

The statemet read thus

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of its President-General, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto has received with absolute shock and amazement the most unfortunate story of the abduction of school girls at the Government Girls’ Science Technical Secondary School, Dapchi, some kilometres away from Damaturu, Yobe State.

This heartless and calamitous but avoidable abduction of school girls is utterly condemnable in its entirety, especially as it happened when some of the students were observing their Maghrib (sunset) prayers, others were breaking their voluntary fast and many others were at the dining hall for supper. Meaning they were relaxed and comfortable so oblivious of the tragedy awaiting them.

There must be blame for this, and no one found culpable in this gross negligence should be spared. In fact, a serious government would have by now put in jail and suspended all negligent security and political chiefs who could and should have protected these innocent children, rather than the rigmarole setting up of an investigative panel. Which most often than not, such panels/committees’ report end up on shelves, covered in dust.

Since the unfortunate occurrence of the abduction, JNI has been following with keen interest events as they unfold in Dapchi. And suffice to state that a reasonable person’s analysis is to conclude that there is apparent lack of synergy between security operatives in Yobe State, or there is active connivance with the insurgents, especially if reports of media altercations between the Army and the Police are anything to go by.

With nostalgia discerning minds could recall that the Chibok abduction is almost four years now. Yet we are unfortunately visited with yet another tragic school girls’ abduction. Is the Chibok girls debacle so long ago in our memory that we have not learnt anything from it?

Furthermore, is this abduction not a near confirmation of the rumour making the rounds that security operatives do not want the war on Boko Haram to end because of the pecuniary benefits they derive therefrom?

Again, why did the Dapchi girls’ abduction happen months before the 2019 general election, just like the Chibok girls’ abduction of 2014? Are there orchestrated plans somewhere to make a case for more security votes?

If there is worse outcome than the abduction itself, it is the fact that this is the most potent action to frustrate girl-child education in Northern Nigeria, despite the many enrolment campaign efforts for female education. No parent now is comfortable especially in the North East to allow his daughter to go to such callously unprotected schools. And the North is the loser! Therefore, this is a wakeup call to the quiescent northern governors.

All of us as parents are still in shock. We must ask: how did the perpetrators gain access to the school? How come they were not prevented or intercepted? Does it mean that when they were coming no security or informants provided any hint?

Aren’t the security operatives conversant with Sun Tzu’s Five Types of Spies in his The Art of War: local, inside, double, doomed and surviving? And that no one must discover your methods. Indeed there is much more than meets the eye in the way this Boko Haram insurgency is now being handled! This is so because before now, the major concern of the citizens of the BAY States (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) has been that any time people provided information on suspected insurgents, the informants are hunted down and many killed within the next 24 hours.

We however commiserate with the families of the Dapchi girls’ victims and wish them safe reunion with their respective children. We also pray for Allah’s continuous guidance, strength and stamina to all those on the battle fields against the Boko Haram insurgents. In the same vein, the people and Government of Yobe state should not despair; Allah shall continue to be their strength in-sha-Allah.

In light of the above, we call on Government at all levels to do everything possible and as a matter of urgency use any means possible to return our Dapchi and Chibok daughters. Enough should be enough!

The Prayers of the JNI and Nigerian Muslims are therefore that:

Government must spare no effort to immediately return all our abducted daughters of Chibok, Dapchi and other places. And then an example must be set – heads must roll for this negligence. Inquiry is NOT the only way to go;
Government at all levels in collaboration with different security agencies must rise against the tide of insecurity in whatever guise, through proactive measures and nipping it in the bud, before it becomes blown off;
We implore all Muslims particularly Imams to continue Qunootun-Nawazil (special prayers at calamitous periods in the last Rak’at of each obligatory prayer and non-obligatory prayers) seeking Allah’s intervention;
Likewise, fervent observance of Adhkar (remembrance of Allah) should also be ventured into by all Muslims, as it is a vital tool for easing fears, tension and uncertainties such as the myriad security challenges bedeviling Nigeria. Similarly, supplications in Sujood (prostrating position) in all circumstances are also paramount;
All female secondary schools in the BAY states should be provided with maximum security;
The remaining final year Dapchi students should be encouraged to write their respective WAEC and NECO exams, even if it be through an arrangement, in another environment.