Search for Chibok girls: military disowns claim it lack capacity

The Defence headquarters has distanced itself from reports alleging that the military admitted it lacks the capacity to rescue the abducted Chibok school girls. “The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) wishes to dissociate itself from the statement credited to it in the report by a section of the media alleging that the military lacks capacity to rescue […]

The Defence headquarters has distanced itself from reports alleging that the military admitted it lacks the capacity to rescue the abducted Chibok school girls.

“The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) wishes to dissociate itself from the statement credited to it in the report by a section of the media alleging that the military lacks capacity to rescue the girls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok.” A statement by the Director Defence Information Major General Chris Olukolade said.

He argued that  the constructive engagement between the DHQ and the Coalition of Civil Society Group “Open Society Foundation” on Tuesday in the ongoing effort to rescue the Chibok girls has again been distorted and sensationalized to pitch public opinion against the Armed Forces.

General Olukolade said, “The import of the meeting between DHQ and the group was misrepresented apparently to project the Nigerian military in bad light and further heat-up the polity.  It must be noted that the military by training is not given to complaining, buck-passing or resignation to defeat as alleged in the report.”

He added that , the Armed Forces will not want to join issues with the representatives of the “bring back the girls” group, saying  no attempt by any group or individual to drag the military into politics will succeed as the Armed Forces is focused on the task of rescuing the abducted girls.

“The DHQ wishes to reassure the Nigerian public that in spite of the antics of those who are bent on undermining the efforts of the Armed Forces, the counter-insurgency operation in the northeast and other internal security operation ongoing across the country will be effectively prosecuted,” General Olukolade said.

The Defence Headquarters statement noted that ,  the Nigerian military has nothing against the bring back the girls campaign but endorses it as a vital component of the nation’s efforts to end terrorism. 

“Nevertheless, it is requested that the civil society platform is not used by individuals to undermine efforts at bringing back our girl from captivity.  The military aspect of the campaign is on course and the Armed Forces is optimistic that the collaborative efforts will end the unfortunate crisis,” General Olukolade said.