ARMY: We Lied, The Female Students Have Not Been Rescued

An apparently embarrassed Nigerian military on Thursday backtracked on its claim that it freed majority of the 129 female students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, who were abducted at about 10pm on Monday night by Boko Haram members.



Spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, Chris Olukolade, had claimed that 107 of the girls were freed in addition to the 14 that escaped from their abductors. Olukolade claimed that following the rescue, only eight of the girls were still held captive by the insurgents.

But shortly the Army's statement, the principal of the school, Asabe Kwambura, said the claims were untrue and that majority of the girls are still with their kidnappers.

Following the revelations, the Military has admitted that they lied. Hear what they have to say below:


“In the light of the denial by the principal of the school, the Defence Headquarters wishes to defer to the school principal and Governor’s statement on the number of students still missing and retract that aspect of earlier statement while the search continues.

“There was no reason to doubt this official channel, hence the information was released to the public immediately,” Mr. Olukolade explained. “Surprisingly however, the school principal, one of the sources quoted in the report has denied all that was attributed to her for whatever reasons. This is an unfortunate development indeed, yet the Defence Headquarters would not want to join issues with anyone.

“It has to be reaffirmed however, that the report forwarded to the public on this issue was in good faith and not intended to deceive the public as is being interpreted following the denials by the School principal and Government of Borno State.

“Like all other citizens, the military is deeply concerned to ensure that the students are safe and freed alive. There is indeed no reason to play politics with the precious lives of the students. The number of those still missing is not the issue now as the life of every Nigerian is very precious.”