Dapchi girls and the money trail
On several matters, economists, criminologists and sociologists of all ideological persuasions advise that we follow the money to understand causes and effects. The matter of the kidnap of 110 girls from the Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state is one such matter that calls attention to the money trail.
Boko Haram on February 19 entered Dapchi town in Yobe state in a convoy of no fewer than six vehicles. They were dressed in military fatigues and fully armed. They went straight to the Government Girls Science Technical College and took with them 110 students of the school. Kidnapped.
If the story were as straightforward as this, however, it would just be a matter of the security apparatus giving chase. Unfortunately, there is so much confusion and tall tales implicating the security system in this failure of intelligence and security. It even reads like sabotage.
Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam first accused the Nigerian Army of withdrawing troops in Dapchi a week before the attack. The army dithered, then accepted that it withdrew troops to areas of greater need while handing over to the Nigeria Police. Untrue, the police retort. There was no formal handover of any kind to the police by the army. Indeed, the police assert that the army did not even notify it of their withdrawal, not to mention hand over to it.
The narrative of error and confusion does not stop there. Governor Gaidam initially claimed recovery of 42 girls 24 hours after the incident. He subsequently crushed raised hopes with the admission that the alleged rescue did not happen.
The matter of the Dapchi Girls kidnap is more unsettling at a closer look. It happened soon after the federal government allegedly paid off Boko Haram for the release of three lecturers of the University of Maiduguri and some other young ladies held by the group. Previous reports in foreign media had accused Nigeria of paying two million Euros to Boko Haram for returning 84 Chibok girls and millions of dollars for another 21 Chibok girls. Nigeria freed five Boko Haram commanders and another 294 soldiers recently for repentance. Those payments would seem to have energised the group and enabled them to buy more ammunition and equipment.
We have in the handling of Boko Haram by the federal government several contradictions. There is a jumbled policy direction. Rather than severe punishment, Nigeria is settling and rewarding Boko Haram for its crimes against the state and citizens. Where lies the killer punch to put an end to the Boko Haram scourge? Where is the word of honour of Mr President as a general and leader to end the Boko Haram menace?
On the matter of Boko Haram and the abduction of the girl child, we sniff the foul scent of bad money. Too much money is implicated in the matter of this war against Boko Haram. Come with us.
Previous heads of the various branches of the armed forces have been implicated in the large-scale heist of funds earmarked for the war as a matter of necessity and urgency. The Buhari administration has budgeted huge sums of money for the fight against Boko Haram. It only recently got the approval of the Council of State to appropriate a further $1b (one billion US dollars) extra-budgetary expenditure for the same purpose. Citizens are bemused because the government claimed to have technically defeated Boko Haram.
Is the failure to stop Boko Haram a matter of too much bad money failing to aid a good cause? Is there too much money at stake and for the take for this war to stop? We submit that it is time for a full accounting for the funds deployed to this war lest it slides from emergency (warfare) to recurrent expenditure on an unending cause.
The solemn pledge by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, February 26, to ensure the recovery of the 110 schoolgirls is just one more buzz of words.
The poor consequence management of Boko Haram has larger and fearful socio-economic and political consequences. Young girls are afraid of going to school, meaning reduced enrolment upon low initial figures. Withdrawal from schools by the girl child in the North East means victory for Boko Haram whose initial goal is to stop education. The more kidnaps, the more ransoms are paid and the more the war continues, forcing more budgetary and extra-budgetary expenditure. The money trail on Boko Haram is odious. Nigeria is bleeding money, hopes and confidence in government over this matter. Victory for Boko Haram is a slap in the face of Nigeria. Stop it now. Bring back the girls. End the Boko Haram matter urgently!