Opinion
Abduction: The Incoherent Story
“Cameras never lie, documents are worthy, dependable referral materials anytime and authorities carry the pot of truth. –Old Myth.
These myths were some
what proven to be true as I journeyed through the tunnel of my carrier in information dissemination. Of course I had always employed the camera to press home my news materials, and once documented, the authenticity of my information is hardly ever in doubt and because I resort to the opinions and views of the authorities, it further boosts the credibility of my story.
Somehow, something tells me that my age-long beliefs, can no longer be relied upon. In short, they are mere fallacy. In my inability to be convinced otherwise, unfolding events tend to signal some form of truth that what I had held on to, for ages as a working tool, could sometimes be faulted. Afterall, is it not mortals and materials made and manipulated by mortals that are involved?
On a second thought, how could any sane mind dispute the fact that authorities “carry the pot of truth,” if so, whose report then is worth believing? What could be more authentic than the words of an authority which duty it is to protect the interest of its subjects and eschew all manner of bias?
The unfolding divergent stories of the abducted girls in Borno State has become so worrisome that one does not know which is the truth.
Could this be why Gbenga Omotoso of The Nation Newspaper said that “Nigeria is a commentator’s night mare?”
Perhaps one needs to be at the centre of events or probably follow up happenings in the country to be able to pass judgment on Gbenga’s idea of Nigeria as the commentator’s nightmare, an assessment pregnant with meanings.
Granted that sometimes the devil could visit a printing house so we could talk about the “printer’s devil” or evil, and obvious still, that there are times when the lip could slip to let out what was not originally intended to be said. All these are usually immediately corrected as soon as acknowledged, to prove that they were not the original intention of the communicator and, of course, they happen once in a while.
If the unpopular nature of these errors makes it easily pardonably by the public, what happens when they assume a popular dimension and possible without any effort for correction? I think it is a lesser evil not to inform at all than to misinform a people.
The reports about the abduction of some school girls in Chibok in Borno State is taking a questionable dimension, that is capable of demeaning the image of Nigeria and the authorities that run the affairs of the country in the assessment of the onlookers home and abroad.
Last week, my worry had been on how to harmonise the BBC report on the abduction of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State, with that of the local news.
While BBC quoted parents to have told its Hausa service that “at least 200 girls were abducted” by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, the local news had it that “no fewer than 100 girls were abducted.”
The commond denominator in the two accounts are chibok the crime scene and date (Tuesday April 15, 2014).
Otherwise it has not been easy to ascertain the actual figure involved in this incidence.
Meanwhile, while we were battling with that, the Defence Headquarters came up with yet another information, fully videoed by the media and eventually documented on papers that out of the 129 girls abducted only 8 were yet to secure their release, meaning about 121 girls have gained their freedom irrespective of how it came about.
Of course, such is a welcome news that should be published even in the streets of ‘Ashekelon’, especially coming from the authority in charge of the security of the people.
That again brings to three, the discrepancies in the reports of figures of girls abducted. The first; “at least 200, the second; “no fewer than 100” and the third; 129, perhaps, the later was based on the number of girls in the hostel.
While this incoherence could still be tolerated, the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, alarmed the public Sunday when he, while expressing his agony over the incidence, revealed that “Between Saturday night and Sunday evening, seven more girls escaped from captivity, bringing to 52, the number of those with us out of the 129 students that were at the hostel on the day of that attack.”
The governor said “the search for 77 others was still on,” a report that is not in congruent with that from the Defence Headquarters.
Although there are contentions that some may have escaped and and reunited with their parents, for which Governor Shettima had called on parents and guardians to return to the school any student that might have run home on the day of the attack so that accurate record could be taken to ascertain the missing figure.
The puzzle got more complex Monday, April 21, 2014, with parents insisting that 234 were actually missing, a situation that further shocked the governor, as he shunned security advice to visit the troubled town, where parents told him that officials would not listen to them when they drew up their list of names of missing children which amounted to 234.
Mallam Shettima Haruna, one of the parents of the missing girls, who spoke on behalf of other parents, had told Governor Shettima, Monday, in Chibok, during his assessment visit to the area that only 39 of the abducted girls had so far regained their freedom. “I want to say clearly on behalf of the parents that about 230 girls are still missing, this is because only 39 girls have so far escaped to safety out of the estimated 270 abducted female students,” he said.
From the varying figures of the abducted to the varying figures of the recovered, which is the authentic figure? How many are still missing? I think the greatest unfairness to humanity is the politicization of a national calamity of this nature.
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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