•Security agencies probe school roll, quiz principal
The Islamist sect, Boko Haram, may have moved the over 100 students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, it abducted two weeks ago into several of its camps as part of the strategy to use them as human shield, according to indications last night.
The girls are believed to have been originally taken into the sect’s fortress in Sambisa forest but following the directive to the military high command on Thursday by the National Security Council to rescue the hostages, it was gathered yesterday that Boko Haram leaders had split the girls into groups and moved them into different camps.
The Defence Headquarters is not relenting in its own efforts and has put in place a Frontline Operation Base for the assignment.
Sources also said yesterday that security agencies have quizzed the Principal of the school and a security guard who survived the terror attack, on how the incident occurred.
The agencies are vetting the school’s roll with a view to ascertaining the actual number of those abducted.
Some parents said recently that up to 234 were taken away by the gunmen.
Former governor of the state, Senator Modu Ali Sheriff has condemned the insurgents for holding the girls hostage.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed the Frontline Operation Base will be used for the tactical engagement to rescue the school girls.
A top source said: “The troops are already in the Frontline Operation Base but they are doing necessary reconnaissance. There is assurance that the girls will be rescued with minimal casualties. A team from the Defence Headquarters spent three days at the base during the week.
“Even the sect was aware that the troops were closing in on them, through the base, to liberate the girls. In fact, the sect made spirited efforts to abort the mission of the troops.
“The killing of 40 insurgents during an encounter with soldiers in Bulanbuli was part of the botched attempts by Boko Haram to attack the Frontline Operation Base.
“We will ensure that we embarked on constructive engagement to set free these girls.”
Another reliable source said the troops have not attacked the suspected location where the school girls are kept because of fresh intelligence report that the sect might have split the hostages into different camps.
The source added: “We are trying to verify this intelligence report that the insurgents have redistributed the girls into camps to use them as shield.
“Whatever the case, we are monitoring their movement . Wherever the girls are, we will do our best to rescue them alive.”
On the verification of the school population, a different source said: “Security agencies have actually quizzed the Principal of the school and a guard on what transpired when the sect invaded the school.
“These agencies are looking into the real school roll as at the time of the incident. This exercise will include seeking answers from the Principal as follows: What was the total roll of the school? How many were in final year? How many of the girls have concluded examinations when the incident happened? Did any of the girls leave school after writing examinations?
“Security agencies may also interact with the cooks to know how many plates of food were served that night. They expect class masters and dormitory masters to assist too.
“One bend these agencies are looking into is the high probability that those in the school were not up to 234 girls as at the time the abduction took place.
“These agencies are seeking the dossiers of the 234 students to locate their parents or guardians one by one to confirm if their daughters were among those abducted or not. Fortunately, most of the girls are from Chibok.
“The security agencies are suspecting that some of the girls might have returned to their parents but they do not want to come out to admit because Boko Haram might go after them. Some of those who abducted the girls were said to be locals who are members of the sect.
“Whatever the case, if Boko Haram is holding one girl or 100 girls or 234 girls, the military is determined to liberate them from captivity.”
Source: The Nation
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