CHIBOK/DAPCHI SCHOOLGIRLS ABDUCTIONS: THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND PEACE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined how in Nigeria, history does not only occur, it keeps repeating itself even in quick succession.  For example, on April 14, 2014, about 200 schoolgirls were abducted in Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State of Nigeria.  Within four years that similar incident repeated itself in Dapchi area located in Busari Local Government Area of Yobe State of Nigeria on February 19, 2018.  The area now known as Yobe state historically was before now part of Borno State.  Since the deadly attack and abduction on Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, about 110 school girls were abducted.  There are obvious similarities in the two different abductions, but related incidents.  Both occurred a year proceeding to general election.  The two secondary schools were for girls only, and the two abductions were masterminded by Boko Haram insurgency.  The security agencies did not arrest the situation or were probably not aware of it until much later, after blame game between the army and the police.  It was said that the abductors, came in long trucks and military fatigues and rifles.  Their victims in hundreds were carried to unknown destinations.  Both Chibok and Dapchi school girls’ abductions occurred almost in the dark hours of the day.  In both incidents, some of the victims cleverly escaped and came back to narrate their bitter experience.  Today, girl’s abduction especially that of Dapchi has compounded the Chibok issue, both abductions were threats to national security and peace of the Nigerian state.  The expectations are that the security agencies should be able to rescue them as quickly as possible. The study adopted the descriptive design. It drew upon primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include oral information and testimonies. Newspapers and magazines reports were also used in conjunction with official records in Government publications. Secondary sources include relevant books. The researcher also made use of direct observation method. All the information gathered were subjected to historical evaluation.