Leah Sharibu remains captive as Yobe govt says all other Dapchi girls freed

All schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, in 2018 have been freed, with the exception of Leah Sharibu, who remains in captivity. The Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Mohammed Goje, stated that the Dapchi girls' incident is no longer a primary concern for the state government because all abductees, except Sharibu, were released before the current administration took office in 2019.

Sharibu, a Christian among the 110 girls taken by insurgents in February 2018, was allegedly held back for refusing to renounce her faith. The remaining girls were freed approximately a month later. While unverified reports about her condition have surfaced over the years, the Federal Government has consistently assured the public that efforts to secure her release are ongoing.

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For the Dapchi girls, except for Leah Sharibu, who, I believe, is still in captivity, the Dapchi girls have all been rescued even before 2019. So, that story is a past one because all of them regained their freedom before this administration came on board.

Goje also emphasized the administration's prioritization of restoring security across Yobe State since 2019, noting substantial progress. He reported that improved security has made every local government area accessible, a significant change from when the administration began. "When we came in 2019, the North-East was deeply affected by insurgency. Many communities were inaccessible because of attacks by Boko Haram and other non-state armed groups," he said. "But today, as I speak to you, there is no local government in Yobe State that is inaccessible."

The restoration of peace has allowed displaced residents to return to their ancestral communities. Government initiatives in agriculture, healthcare, education, and livelihoods are assisting them in rebuilding their lives. Goje stated that security improvements have extended to the ward level, with nearly all political wards in Yobe now accessible, indicating the level of progress achieved.

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When we came in 2019, the North-East was deeply affected by insurgency. Many communities were inaccessible because of attacks by Boko Haram and other non-state armed groups. But today, as I speak to you, there is no local government in Yobe State that is inaccessible. You can travel to every local government area, and humanitarian organisations can also access communities that were previously cut off.