Over five years after the abduction of 219 schoolgirls and the burning of the school, the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, is still under lock and key as pupils now receive lessons at a primary school nearby.
Boko Haram insurgents had on April 14, 2014 stormed the school dormitory and forcefully abducted over 200 girls, but 57 of the girls escaped and found their way back home. The Federal Government subsequently negotiated with the abductors and freed over 100 girls, leaving 112 others in captivity for the past 1,998 days.
A member of the Kibaku Area Development Association in Abuja, Dr. Manasseh Allen, on Wednesday, October 2nd bemoaned the failure of the Federal Government to rescue the remaining 112 girls in Boko Haram captivity, almost 2,000 days after the insurgents stormed their dormitories and forcefully took them away.
Allen noted that the government had not offered any form of succour to the parents of the missing girls or the community as a whole. He also alleged that over 21 Chibok parents had died as a result of trauma.
He said, “Aside the presence of a military brigade in Chibok, which has been doing its best to protect the people, the government has not done anything either directly for the parents or the people. The school has neither been completed nor put into operation. It is part of the primary school that the pupils are now using. They go there in the afternoon after the primary school pupils had closed.
“If the government was serious about changing the lives of the people, the school would have been completed as a way of countering extremism. The Federal Government should have been able to build the school to international standard, furnish it in such a way as to send a strong signal to the terrorists that they cannot cow us.”
Allen said the government could not negotiate the release of the remaining 112 girls, stressing that the release of the first batch of 100 girls was achieved through negotiation by the Department of State Services. He added, “None of the girls was rescued through military operations. We know that even if not all, most of them are still alive. If the government is serious about securing their release, it can get them alive.
“We still believe that most of the girls are alive and they want to come home. Those that were married by the insurgents are running away from the bush and coming back to civilisation. We are confident that those that were forcefully taken away will look for a way to return to their loved ones.”
The Chibok indigene said many people had fled their communities in the Chibok Local Government Areas, following the spate of attacks by the insurgents. “I have lost count of the attacks, but they (Boko Haram) have attacked Gatamarwa more than five times, Flemagalama more than five times, and other communities. The attacks are so many that we don’t bother counting. As a result of this, many people have abandoned their farmlands and this has affected food production in the area,” Allen said.
At 31, Lagos-born Espago is redefining what it means to be a late bloomer in the Nigerian music
space. After spending years as a chef, designer, and farmer, Espago turned to music just a year
ago on a journey sparked by deep loss, life experience, and self-discovery.
What makes him different? It’s not just his sound, it’s his story. Espago brings a calm but
confident energy that mirrors his Lagos upbringing: a blend of vibrant Fuji rhythms and soulful
Afrobeat traditions like King Sunny Ade, shaped by global legends like Michael Jackson and
Celine Dion. His voice? Professionally trained. His brand? Stylish, grounded, and intentional.
Espago didn’t wait for the industry to find him; he found his own way in, teaching himself,
searching out producers, and building his identity from scratch. With no major label backing and
no big-name features, he has still built a brand marked by boldness, emotion, and Lagos street
authenticity.
He’s not just making music; he’s building a lifestyle brand. His creative roots are in food,
fashion, and music fused into something richer than just a “sound.” It’s a full experience. While
he hasn’t performed live yet, he’s putting in the work behind the scenes, mentoring new artists,
recording regularly to sharpen his voice and brand for bigger stages ahead.
In a scene dominated by speed, Espago’s journey is about intentional growth, honest
expression, and emotional connection.
As the new class of Afro‑HipHop begins to take shape, Espago stands out not just for what he’s
making, but for who he is becoming.
Rising artist Derriq isn’t just making music for entertainment; he’s building a legacy rooted in culture, resilience, and pride. The Lagos-based Afro-soul and Afrobeats singer has his eyes set on something bigger than streaming numbers: putting his hometown of Benin City on the global creative map is his dream.
A native of Edo State, Derriq’s musical journey began as a child organizing school parties just for the chance to perform. Since then, he’s gone from studio assistant to full-fledged artist, releasing impactful tracks like “Position,” “Vibration,” and “Confidence.” His sound, described as smooth, calm, and party-ready, reflects the duality of his personality: laid-back yet determined, quiet but powerful.
Derriq is more than just a promising name on Nigeria’s growing music roster; he’s a symbol of the next generation of artists who blend regional identity with global appeal using his distinctive voice, a strong sense of direction, and his signature slang “Yehboo! Yezaiii!” making waves among fans, Derriq is proving that cultural authenticity still cuts through the noise.
His next single, “Omo n’ Ogie,” is a tribute to his heritage and a signal that he’s just getting started. Keep your eyes on Derriq, he’s not just singing for the moment, he’s singing for a movement.
Follow @DerriqMusic on all social platforms
For interviews and press: derriqmusic@gmail.com
Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. President Bola Tinubu will address the nation in a broadcast today, Sunday, August 4, 2024. Mr Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement, on Saturday, saying the broadcast would hold at 7am.
2. The Commissioner of Police in Borno State, Yusuf Lawal, on Saturday confirmed the killing of four persons along Baga Road in Maiduguri, Borno State during the nationwide #EndBadGoverment protest. He said Boko Haram elements infiltrated the protesters and killed four persons on Thursday with explosives at a filling station.
3. Many persons have been feared killed while others sustained injuries as hoodlums clashed with security operatives in Kano. It was gathered that Rijiyar Lemo, Kurna to Bachirawa areas in Fagge Local Government, Kofar Nassarawa in Kano municipal and Unguwa Uku area of Tarauni Local Government are the worst hit areas.
4. The leadership of the organised labour, on Saturday, warned the Nigeria Police Force and other security forces to stop what it described as a “massacre” of protesters carrying out nationwide demonstrations against hunger in the land.
5. Leading Human Rights group, Amnesty International Nigeria, has said over 50 protesters were arrested in Abuja on the third day of the demonstration against hardship in the land.
6. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged the police and other security agencies to stop shooting and killing protesters demanding good governance in Nigeria. Atiku in a statement on Saturday, questioned the professionalism of the security agencies in the handling of the ongoing demonstrations.
7. Some of the organisers and supporters of the ongoing protest have set up pages to raise over N4bn through GoFundMe, a popular online crowdfunding platform. A check on Saturday showed that a total of N4.1bn had been benchmarked to be donated through accounts created by three GoFundMe users.
8. Tragedy struck again in Imo State on Saturday evening when some gunmen reportedly shot dead the President-General of Umucheke Okwe autonomous community in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, Hyginus Ohazurike. Six village heads from the autonomous community were also allegedly killed by the gunmen.
9. The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh has said his men were not responsible for the death of a teenager in the Kubwa area of the FCT. In a viral video, a man claimed that police, while dispersing protesters, shot dead a teenager in the Kubwa area.
10. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu has said President Bola Tinubu is keeping an eye on the ongoing #EndBadGovernance demonstrations across the country.
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