On February 19, 2018 about 110 schoolgirls of Government girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC) were kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram terrorists. How the terrorists found their way undetected to the school located in Dapchi, Yunusari Local Government area of Yobe state undetected has raised a lot of eyebrows amidst suspicions from several quarters.
106 of the kidnapped children were eventually released after negotiations between the Federal Government and the suspected kidnappers. However one of the girls, Leah Sharibu was not released sparkling a lot of controversies and protests from Nigerians.
It was insinuated that the major reason she wasn’t released was because she failed to convert to Islam, the religion of the terrorists.
A Government source has decided to clear the air and disclose the reason she hasn’t been released till date.
According to the government source,the Government had always made all the necessary efforts to secure her release, going to the extent of offering to pay a ransom but the abductors failed to release her as promised.
It was gathered that the requested ransom was worth millions of Naira which the government agreed to pay but the abductors refused to collect the ransom and cancelled all agreements to release the girl.
Perplexed by the swing of events just when it seemed an agreement had finally been made after series of communication between top security agents of the Government, third parties and the terrorists, the Federal government demanded an explanation for the abrupt rejection despite fulfilling its own part of the bargain.
It was learnt that the Boko Haram Insurgents made up their minds not to accept the ransom nor release Leah because they wanted to take advantage of her abduction as a pawn to promote their religious passion and if possible, cause a religious war in the country.
The federal government has reiterated that it remains strongly committed to ensuring the release of Leah and all other abductees in the kidnappers’ den.
