The Nigerian Senate on Thursday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to explain the circumstances surrounding the abduction of 110 students of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, by Boko Haram on February 19.
According to Punch, the invitation followed the adoption of a motion moved by Senator Binta Masi Garba, to commemorate the 2018 International Women’s Day.
Sen. Biodun Olujimi, who presented the motion on Garba’s behalf, said the Senate was concerned that the implementation of policies that prohibit violence against women and girls, and promote the girl-child’s education was still poor.
“Practices such as violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking, sexual and other types of exploitation, early child and forced marriage, female genital mutilation are still being practised.
“The Senate is further concerned that the spate of girl-child kidnapping in Nigeria has assumed an alarming dimension. On the 21st of February, 2018, the nation was shocked with the news of the kidnap of 110 schoolgirls from Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Busari Local Government Area of Yobe State. This incidence is reminiscence of the 2014 Chibok girls’ abduction in which 113 of the girls are still in captivity almost four years after.
“The Senate is worried that a pattern is gradually being established which clearly indicates that the objectives of the Boko Haram insurgents is to deprive young girls of school age from pursuing education.
“The Senate is further worried that if this ugly trend is not checked, the girl-child education, which is part of the objective of goal Number 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals would have been lost in Nigeria, even before the 2030 target year.”
The motion which was unanimously adopted was co-sponsored by Senators Stella Oduah, Oluremi Tinubu, Biodun Olujimi, Monsurat Sumonu, Fatima Raji-Rasaki, Rose Oko, John Enoh and Yele Omogunwa.