Residents of Zamfara State are at a loss, and their anger is building over the drama playing out in the state over the purported release of over 300 school girls, and the state government and Police denial of the event.
On Sunday and this Monday, it was a subject of discussion all over the embattled state, made worse by the Governor, Bello Matawalle, who told a meeting that he already knows the identity of those behind the attack on and kidnap of students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe.
But who are they? He has remained silent.
On Sunday when 17 Emirs in the state paid him a sympathy visit over the abduction of 317 girls from the school, the Governor said Nigerians would be shocked to know those behind the abduction.
He said: “As we await the arrival of the released kidnapped students of GSSS, Jangebe at the Government House today (Sunday), I want to inform you that there are many revelations in relation to the abduction of these students.
“Many people will be surprised to hear those people behind the abduction of these innocent children.
“They are not comfortable with the progress I am getting as a result of my peace initiative and they want to do all they can to sabotage my efforts.
“I will insha Allah succeed at the end of the day and they will bury their faces in shame.”
Observers also wonder what he meant by, “as we await the arrival of the released kidnapped students of GSSS, Jangebe at the Government House today (Sunday),” when the state government made a show of denying the release of the girls.
A source had told Everyday.ng that buses had been dispatched to bring the girls to Gusau from Anka.
However, hours after the story broke, ashes was poured in the mouth of celebrants when, in quick succession, both the government and the Police denied the girls were freed by the bandits.
The men of ill-fame stormed Jangebe community early Friday morning shooting, drove to the school, abducted the girls, and took them on a long walk into the forests.
“On Monday afternoon, residents of Gusau insisted the Governor must open up or be counted as a beneficiary of what is now considered a commercial enterprise, using human lives.
“He has a relationship with many of this people and has used it to the benefit of the state, and they must have told him who their sponsors are. He should tell the whole world and must free our girls,” a source in Gusau, who does not want to be named for security reasons, said.