Shekau Video: The Claims Will Be Studied Seriously – DHQ

Following the video released by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, where he claimed responsibility for the abduction of the students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, the Defence headquarters said yesterday that it was taking all statements and information seriously.

Emphasizing that the Boko Haram claim will not detract the military from its ongoing search for the girls, DHQ in an SMS sent to Vanguard last night said: “The claim by the group will be studied seriously”.

“On the so called video or message from the terrorists, let me reiterate the fact that we take every information or claims on this abduction with due seriousness.

“This claim will also be studied although it will not detract the military in its ongoing search,” Major-General Chris Olukolade, who sent the SMS noted.

Meanwhile, protests were held, yesterday, in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Borno and other places to mount pressure on the government to speed up its efforts in rescuing the girls, even as youths in Borno State Youths and students in Borno state led by Comrade Yusuf Tom and Miss Fatima Zanna Maliki gave the government 40 days from the day of the abduction of the female students in Chibok, which is expected to lapse on May 24, 2014, to fnd the girls.

According to them, if by then the girls were not released, they are going to mobilise students nationwide and gather at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri, where they hope to go on hunger strike until government does everything within its power to release the abducted students.

Condemning the abduction, the students however urged the Federal Government to step up it’s effort towards speedy resolution of the security challenges in the country.

They also commended the efforts of the civilian JTF towards ensuring return of peace to Maiduguri, the state capital, while calling on youths in the state to be law abiding and embrace peaceful means in addressing their grievances.