Police begin documentation of abducted girls

Maiduguri – The Commissioner of Police in Borno, Alhaji Lawan Tanko, has appealed to parents whose wards were abducted in Chibok to forward the names and photographs of the girls for documentation.

Tanko, who made the appeal at a news briefing in Maiduguri, said the move followed difficulties in accessing the records of the girls due to the burning down of the school by the abductors.
“We want to appeal to parents of the abducted girls to please come forward with the names and photographs of their wards, so we can come up with a tentative figure of those missing.
“The April 14 attack on the school by suspected insurgents has damaged the entire structure, including the administrative building where records were kept.
“This makes it difficult to get records on the number of girls actually abducted at the school,” he said.
Tanko said available information had revealed that 530 candidates registered at the school for the Senior Secondary
Certificate Examination (SSCE).
“Candidates from five areas – Ashigashiya, Izge, Chibok, Waraba A, and Lassa, registered in the school for the SSCE.”
The police commissioner noted also that it was still not clear on the number of girls that were abducted when the insurgents attacked Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, on April 14.
“At present, there are flying figures on the actual number of the girls abducted.
“About 276 students were allegedly abducted by the insurgents going by claims of the people.
“Out of the number, 53 have regained their freedom, and going by the figure about 223 girls are believed to be in the abductors’ den.
“But we need the parents and guardians to come forward with genuine claims like names and photographs so we can get the actual figure,” the police chief said.