The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Sumonu Abdulmaliki, however, said there was no time the military handed over Dapchi town to the police.

He explained that Yobe was a security emergency state being monitored by security agencies.

Abdulmaliki, in a statement he personally signed, said the military neither handed over any location to the police nor informed it of its withdrawal from any area.

He said, “The attention of the Yobe State Police Command has been drawn to a statement that… the security of Dapchi town was formally handed over to a police division located in the town.

 “The statement by the military… is not correct, as there was no time that the military informed the police of its withdrawal or handed over its locations in Dapchi town to the police.

“The whole of Yobe State is still under security emergency with the police, the military and other security agencies battling to ensure a lasting peace.”

President Muhamamdu Buhari on Monday promised that his administration would ensure the safe return of all those abducted by Boko Haram, including the 110 students of the Government Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State.

Buhari stated this at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving three University of Maiduguri lecturers, one policewoman and nine other women rescued from the insurgents recently.

The President, who said he was “terribly saddened” by the separate abductions of his guests and killing of six others in June and July 2017, told them that all peace-loving Nigerian prayed for their safety.

He said their rescue on February 10, 2018, came to him and all Nigerians as a huge relief.

He said their path to freedom was protracted because different groups located in different spots were responsible for their separate abductions.

Buhari said, “Let me say that this government treasure all human lives particularly that of its citizens.

“Following your abductions, the security agencies were directed by me to do everything humanly possible to ensure the safe release of you and other persons under the hold of the insurgents.

“While government was fully aware of the expectations of your families and the general public for your immediate freedom, the path to your freedom was painstaking and protracted. This was because the groups responsible for your abduction were not only different, but based in different locations that if not properly handled could result in dire consequences.

“While thanking the security agencies and all those who facilitated your release, let me clearly reiterate the resolve of this administration to ensure that all persons abducted by insurgents are rescued or released safely.

“This is especially against the backdrop of the recent incident where another group of girls were abducted from Government Science and Technical Girls College, Dapchi, Yobe State.

“I have directed all security agencies to ensure the safety of our schools and students, as well as bring back the abducted girls to their families.”

Apart from working towards the release of those abducted, Buhari said his government would also work closely with all stakeholders, especially the United Nations and other donor agencies, towards rehabilitating and resettling all those displaced as a result of conflicts.

While saying he was mindful of the pains and injury meted out to people by the insurgents, Buhari promised that government would ensure that the insurgents were degraded and peace returned to the land.

The President also directed the National Youth Service Corps to issue certificate of discharge to Jummai Ibrahim, who was a corps member as of the time of her abduction.

She was supposed to have completed her service last year.

The Director General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, took time to introduce the freed persons, including a final year student of UNIMAID.

Daura said based on the President’s directive that all abducted persons be rescued alive, the service chose the path of negotiation which was considered to be the safest.

He also disclosed that the negotiations mostly took place outside the country while the final one was held at the theatre of operation.

He said, “The negotiations took several months and the Department of State Services, with the support of the external elements of the group in the diaspora and support from friendly countries; and liaising with International Community of the Red Cross, made the rescue possible.

“The negotiations centred on conflict mitigation which include the fate of arrested members of the insurgent groups, especially government accepting to free those found not to be culpable in any criminal action.

“It also involved cessation of hostilities, especially the attacks with IEDs on innocent civilians, worship centres, schools and other public places in return for temporary stoppage of air strikes by helicopter gunships.

“Lastly, the negotiation was centred on the possibility of the Federal Government granting amnesty to those willing to surrender and ready to lay down their arms.”

One of the freed lecturers, Dr Solomon Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of others, described their rescue as a confirmation of the fact that the life of every Nigerian is important to the government.

He, however, appealed to Buhari for another job for him and his colleagues, saying going back to their base remained a nightmare for them considering their experience in the hands of the insurgents.

The lecturer said, “If there is an opportunity for us to be relocated and maybe given another job; sir, this is our golden request.

“But we appreciate everything; the sacrifice you have made for us, thank you sir.”