The Federal Government of Nigeria, have released a statement on the conflicting figures of the actual number of freed Dapchi School Girls. The figures which were initially put at just 76, is now 101 according to the statement, after cross-checking with the documented Dapchi School Girls list, the Minister of Information Lai Mohammed, said the numbers have increased from 76 to now 101. This 101 out of the alleged 110 abducted girls and the five death recorded during their release, brings the total to 106. If we follow the figure of 110, it means there is still four Dapchi School girls unaccounted for.
Though the statement released on the official twitter account of the All Progressive Congress did not indicate whether the five recorded death were added to the total number, it only says that from their documented record, 101 School girls were released by the Boko Haram Militants. The Statement as released on twitter handle of @APCNigeria, reads:
The number of the Dapchi schoolgirls who were released on Wednesday has increased from 76 to 101, with the documentation of more of the freed girls by the security agencies, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister said the number could still increase, as the documentation of the freed girls is ongoing.
He said the release of the schoolgirls is the outcome of the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to all security agencies to do everything possible to secure the release of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls, who were abducted 19 Feb. 2018.
The Minister said the girls were released around 3 a.m. through back-channel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country, and that it was unconditional.
”For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option.
”Within the period when the girls were being brought back, operational pause was observed in certain areas to ensure free passage and also that lives were not lost,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Federal Government Delegation comprising Ministers of Information and Culture; Interior as well as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs are on their way to Maiduguri to meet with the freed girls.