Nigerian military yesterday denied possession of any escapee among the 200 girls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, still in the captivity of Boko Haram.
This followed controversial media report that one of the girls, who just escaped from the captivity, is now in the custody of the military.
A statement by Defence Headquarters, DHQ, frowned at the report, dismissing it as blatant lies and misleading, saying there was no such escapee with the military.
The statement issued through its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, said: “The attention of Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has been drawn to the above caption published in the Saturday Vanguard of 10 October, 2015, in which it claimed one of the Chibok girls who escaped from terrorists’ captivity was handed to the military post in Baga.
“The spurious report by the Vanguard is not only misleading but is once again another unconscionable outing as there is no iota of truth in its entirety, hence should be disregarded.
“In as much as the Nigerian military and other security agencies are working round the clock to secure the release of not only the Chibok girls but other innocent citizens held hostage by the terrorists, it will not give in to misleading reports, which has no true source, as we have repeatedly pledged to inform the Nigerian public on the true situation on our ongoing operations.
“The sensitive nature of this report notwithstanding, the moral justification for this false publication cannot be substantiated.”
The DDI said the Nigerian military, also being a component of the society was equally worried and is doing everything possible to address the current security challenges.
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He said the search for abducted Chibok school girls and the rescue of other Nigerians in hostage has never relapse as could be attested to in recent times where hundreds of women and children were rescued by the military through its coordinated operations.
Abubakar said the military has, and would continue to sustain the operation until the entire North East is cleared of all terrorists and miscreants.
“The DHQ is not unmindful of the media’s good intention in this regards however, we wish to advise reporters and any other stakeholders to be good partners in ensuring their safe rescue and successful termination of terrorists campaign.
“We also urge journalist to be cautious of reporting such issues and by extension, security and defence related matters.
“We wish to once again remind journalists to seek clarifications on any issue relating to military operations and other national sensitive matters before going to press,” the DHQ said.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Army yesterday, issued another warning asking Boko Haram insurgents to surrender and face the law.
A statement through the Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, said the consequences of refusing to surrender would be devastating.
Usman said: “This is to once again warn all Boko Haram terrorists wherever they are, to desist from all acts of terrorism, surrender themselves and face the law now.
“We wish to inform them that we are aware of all their hideouts, camps and enclaves.
“They should follow their colleagues who have so far surrendered.
“Failure to surrender will result in serious consequences as our troops are fast closing up with them.
“We equally appeal to all Nigerians to kindly persuade them to desist and renounce their membership of the terrorist organization forthwith.”
