Boko Haram and Nigerian schoolgirls’ politics By Yinka Olaito

A major function of any government is to guarantee safety, protection of its entire citizenry. Any government which fails to do this may lack moral claim to sound good governance. If the citizen can trust a democratically elected government with their mandate, the government must be agile in its duty by ensuring strategic channelling of national resources at its disposal towards making sure fundamental rights of the citizens, especially the most vulnerable are guaranteed.


Since Boko Haram became a national concern and its onslaught reached a crescendo around 2012, there seemed to be an unwritten politics associated with it. First, it was alleged  some of our Soldiers were the ones supplying them ammunition.  Then, there was a rumour  some of our soldiers were leaking every planned attack by the Nigerian Army to key Boko Haram leaders. Some top brass in the Army were dismissed on this ground.

Former President Jonathan once cried out  “Boko Haram had invaded my government.”  At this time also, key Boko Haram members were alleged to be found in a private residence which  belong to the the then vice president, Alhaji Sambo.

From here, we moved to  the allegations of top government officials and Army officers taking advantage of the situation through illegal enrichment as well as wanton stealing of the money meant for arms purchase.Many precious souls of our soldiers were lost to this.  It was also insinuated when Boko Haram were about to strike, soldiers on the location would be ordered to leave such duty post until further notice.

These claims were rampant but no one investigated its authenticity. The absence of the soldiers in these locations usually gave ample opportunities to the terrorists to have a field day unchecked. In all these, hundreds of thousands of lives had been wasted while the feeling of unconcerned permeated the entire system and  continued to reign supreme.

Few Boko Haram members  arrested found their ways out of the prison mysteriously and no punishment was meted out to those who were supposed to be guarding them. In summer of 2014, Boko Haram members went to Chibok and abducted over 274 school girls. Initial response of governments at both the state and Federal levels were denials.

Back and forth, two weeks passed before any concrete acceptance of dereliction of duty could be figured out. At this time, Boko Harm had gone far from the prying eyes of the Nigeria security forces  where the girls could be recovered.  Even at that, no one could figure out the number and the names of the girls that were abducted. What a shame of a nation!

Rumour had it soldiers were removed from the road a few days before this dastardly act took place in Chibok. It was when parent and other concerned individuals began to make the system uncomfortable that governments started making promises. This gave birth to  #Bringbackourgirls global movement.

The present ruling party, which was the opposition then, maximized the opportunity and engaged in massive propaganda.   Despite all the promises from the governments,  nothing tangible was done to secure the release of these precious but vulnerable lives. Government negotiators were contracted to broker possible deals. This include prisoners’ swap and exchange of Millions of Naira,  nothing specific compared to the huge sum was achieved.

Then fortune smiled on the present All Progressive Congress (APC) as it became the ruling party  in 2015 with its promise of security and determined focus to fight corruption. One cannot deny measurable achievement the present administration had made in these two areas. But alas, corruption is wearing a new cap now. Snakes, monkey and other animals had become the new strategy through which money is siphoned.

The purpose of history is to serve as guidance. If we can not learn from history, we may be fools without any thinking faculty. On Monday this week, history repeated itself, but now in Dapchi,Yobe state. Boko Haram invaded the town, went to Government  Girls College established for building Science and technical skills in girls, and abducted about 94 of the school girls. Like Chiboks Girls,  unconfirmed rumours also had it soldiers were removed from or security became unnecessarily relaxed  at strategic places around the town few days before this incidence. So the terrorists had a good day without any reprisal attack for about three hours after.

Yobe state government’s official in this case came out the second day with a reckless statement stating the girls or some of them had been recovered. The  state government came out to refute this statement the following day.What is the sin of the parents and the citizens at large to be subjected to this kind of traumatised life?

The only difference between this Dapchi girls abduction  and Chiboks was there was a government  delegation’s visit to Dapchi, Yobe State few days after. There was also  an acknowledgement of government’s failure. But like Chiboks, exact numbers of the girls abducted continued to be a riddle to be solved till date.  Names and pictures of the abducted  girls are still not available. The government continues its mental torture.

Given the antecedent, why was it difficult to secure tightly girls’ only secondary schools in the North East? Especially in a state like Yobe which had witnessed heavy onslaught of Boko Harm like Borno and Adamawa?

The question in my lips today then is which way Nigeria? When will this politics end and when will the vulnerable  school girls in the North East Nigeria enjoy a sigh of relief?