The Inspector General of Police, Ibriahim Idris has recanted an earlier statement that Boko Haram members were set to release Leah Sharibu, the only Christian Dapchi School girl still in captivity. The IGP in a statement issued by the Force PRO, Jimoh Moshood said he was misquoted. The statement read in part;
“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to the publication on some Social Media platform and conventional media indicating that the Inspector General of Police said the last Dapchi school girl will be released soon.
“The Statement of the IGP was misunderstood and misquoted. The misunderstanding may be as a result of the already released Dapchi School girls expected back home in Yobe State today but could not arrive due to weather condition. The IGP could not also proceed to Dapchi because of same weather condition.
“The Force wishes the members of the public and the media disregard the purported statement as not what the IGP meant. The Force therefore reiterates that it has no information yet on the release of the last Dapchi school girl. This release should be taken as the true position of the IGP’s statement. The media are hereby enjoined to correct their records and publication, please.”
The IGP had earlier been reported as saying that the sect was set to release the lone girl still in captivity, stressing that her planned release was the reason why he was yet to visit Dapchi in Yobe. He had reportedly hinted that security agencies had reached an understanding with the sect to ceasefire adding that since he moves around in helicopter, the sect might assume that it was a combat situation.
Speaking at the Military Command and Control Centre, Maimalari Cantonment, the IGP was quoted as saying
“I am supposed to go to Dapchi today but because of the girl, I learnt she may be released. It is a sort of understanding that we do not create much security situation and I move with a helicopter. By the time I fly there, they might think I break and that was why I postponed the visit to Dapchi,” he said.