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By Tunde Johnson
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the revelation by Amnesty International (AI) that the Federal Government-controlled security forces got advanced warning but failed to prevent the abduction of schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, is “heartrending, distressing and disappointing.”
A statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary, PDP, on Tuesday said the report, however, vindicated its stand that President Muhammadu Buhari-led Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) must be held responsible for the Dapchi abduction and several other atrocities committed by insurgents against citizens, particularly in the northern part of the country.
The statement commended AI for its courage in exposing the truth, adding that the report further underpins speculations of conspiracy theorems around the abduction and places a huge moral burden on the Presidency.
It said the world can now see why the Presidency and APC have been suppressing information on the abduction and why no firm steps have been taken to unravel the real reasons behind security lapses like the withdrawal of troops from the area as well as those behind the false rescue report.
The statement reads: “This revelation by the Amnesty International has finally exposed Buhari-led Federal Government and its manifest failures, deceptions and culpability in the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate abduction of our daughters.
“The world can now see why the Presidency and APC have been suppressing information on the abduction and why no firm steps have been taken to unravel the real reasons behind security lapses like the withdrawal of troops from the area as well as those behind the false rescue report, which frustrated the genuine effort to save our daughters.
“This report indeed places a direct question on President Buhari as the chief security officer of the nation, especially in the face of his multifarious failures to effectively oversee routine security actions, particularly in troubled areas.
“From the AI report, it is clear that if the troops guiding the area, under the command of the Buhari-led Federal Government, were not withdrawn, and if President Buhari had effectively monitored the situation and implemented the Safe School Initiative, introduced in the wake of the 2014 Chibok abduction, the Dapchi schoolgirls would not have been abducted.”
The statement said the revelation by this international body has further reinforced our demand that the National Assembly should immediately conduct an independent, comprehensive and system-wide inquest to unravel the truth about this abduction, as many Nigerians still believe that there is more than meet the eyes in this Dapchi abduction saga.
It added that the PDP will continue to stand with the families of our girls and monitor all events in our collective quest to ensure their safe return to their families.
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