We have not confirmed kidnap of 60 women in Borno - Nigeria

The Federal Government has said that it has yet to confirm the latest kidnap of 60 women in Chibok and Damboa local government areas of Borno State.

The Chairman of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, who stated this in a telephone interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, also commented on statements attributed to a lawyer close to Boko Haram, Hajia Aisha Wakil.

He said that government could not act on claims in the media.

Wakil, had on Al-Jazeera on Monday, said that the sect was demanding amnesty and rehabilitation.

She had said, “They want to be given amnesty, rehabilitated and allowed to come back home and move freely. I told them not to hold the girls as ransom and to give me the sick ones, and that was where we ended. The girls are a growing burden to them.”

Reacting to the statements, Omeri said that he was not aware that Boko Haram had appointed Wakil as its spokesperson.

He said, “I have not heard it (the interview on Al-Jazerra). Secondly, the lady knows where to present the views of Boko Haram. If she has been appointed by Boko Haram, we would have known.

“Did you hear them say they have appointed her as their spokesperson? Boko Haram has not told us specifically who they have appointed. We cannot act on spurious claims on pages of newspapers or on Al-Jazeera.”

On the abduction of 60 women in Boron on Monday, he said he had not confirmed the kidnap.

He said, “Everybody I checked with said he heard from someone.

“Nobody has confirmed the abduction of 60 women including people from Damboa. I have spoken to quite a number of people; I have asked from the media that reported it. They said they heard from somebody.

“I checked from the local government Information officer. He said that he heard from somebody.

“For me, up till now, I have not confirmed. Everybody I spoke with said he heard from somebody, including the sources the newspapers have quoted.”

Asked whether it was convenient to say that the government had not confirmed the kidnap of the women, he said, “Yes, because all the sources claimed they heard from somebody and that somebody is not identified by anybody.”

No fewer than 60 women and children were reported to have been kidnapped in Damboa and Chibok local government areas of Borno State on Monday.

The sect, which attacked the local government areas, was said to have killed 30 people.