Major Ian Robertson, a British envoy and the General Advisor, British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) in Nigeria, condemned the abduction an unascertained number of students of Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Dapchi in Yobe State.
He also stated that the UK will be willing to help Nigeria out in the recovery of the girls and the crushing of the suspected terrorists.
He added that this attack raised fears that all girls’ schools will become an increasing target for would-be terrorists.
Robertson said all this at a forum organised by Partners West Africa-Nigeria which centred on prioritising the voices of women in security organisations based on National Action Plan on Women (2017-2020)
He said that he and his team were observing the situation and would step in when the time was right.
“Having heard about this particular issue recently, I am still trying to get more information about what is going on, but it is clearly very disappointing that something like this has happened, that the girls have been taken.” He said.
He added, “But let me reassure you, from the British military perspective, that we are monitoring the event quite closely and we are cooperating with the armed forces of Nigeria to see how we can assist.”
While he could not comment on the attitude of Nigerian government towards the abduction, he, however, noted that he was working at a very basic level to ensure that the training his team provides for Nigerian armed forces has a gender perspective.
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