Parents of the girls abducted by suspected Boko Haram militia in Chibok, Borno last week Tuesday have said that the Nigerian army is not searching for the girls in the forest as alleged by authorities.
A parent who spoke to foreign media service BBC anonymously said, “We were about 200 in the forest but we had to return back. We couldn’t sleep there; we saw nothing but make shift huts that were erected in the bushes.
“We saw vehicles like that of security agents in the bush, there were so many things, and there was even bread.
“We however saw a different set of people who asked of our mission and we told them. It is a very thick forest and anyone would be scared to explore the forest.
“Contrary to claims by the authorities that soldiers were in the forest trying to rescue the school girls, we saw nobody; we didn’t see any vigilante agent too. We did not see any security agent, even in our dreams. These soldiers, we didn’t see any”.
In a related development, the State’s Commissioner for Education, Musa Kubo, said one more girl had returned.
“I am afraid we do not have an update that is as encouraging as Friday’s. Only one of our missing students returned today (Saturday).
“She was not among those abducted. She was however one of the 129 girls at the hostel on that black day the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok was attacked.
“She ran out of the school during the attack and thereafter, went to her parents. She was brought back by her mother on Saturday.”
“So far, we now have 45 students back in school. Out of this number, 28 escaped from abduction while 17 fled home during the attack and returned home.
“As at yesterday, we had 44 students. Today, we have 45 while 84 are yet to be found. Like I explained in yesterday’s release, all the accounted girls are being reconnected with their families as a tactical measure pending the return of their colleagues and subsequent decision by the State Governor on the way forward.
“Like I also said yesterday, we are hopefully expecting the return of our 84 students as intensive search and rescue efforts continue. I once again like always, acknowledge the combined efforts of the security agencies and civilian volunteers for their patriotism”.