8 Schoolgirls Did Not Escape From Sambisa Forest – Police

Borno State Police command has denied a newspaper’s report alleging that it confirmed the escape of eight abducted Chibok schoolgirls from Sambisa forest 70 days after being held by the Boko Haram Sect. A national newspaper had on Wednesday published a report that eight of the Chibok schoolgirls had escaped from captivity. The report also quoted the commissioner of police, Borno State Command Alhaji Tanko Lawan, as confirming the incident. But the Borno State command has faulted the report claiming that the CP Tanko, had been put on the line of fire by his superiors for confirming the escape without first informing Abuja about it. The CP said the report was a farce, saying that he might press a charge against the newspaper. The CP, according to the Police Public Relations officer, Gideon Jubrin, had invited the concerned journalist to explain how he got the story. Speaking to journalists on the issue, CP Tanko denied ever speaking to the concerned journalist. He said, “I want to state without fear of contradiction that I never confirmed the escape of eight of the abducted GGSC Chibok girls; I do not remember talking to the author of the story.’’ Tanko advised journalists to always cross check their facts before going to press. “The story has caused me some embarrassment, because I never spoke to anybody on the issue. If truly any of the girls had escaped, we will not hesitate in giving the media the information. It is sad that a journalist can just create a non-existing story and attribute same to me,” he added.