Published 10th Mar, 2024

By Joseph Adeiye

To the abduction of not less than 280 schoolchildren in Kaduna State, the world responded with dismay. This kidnapping in Kaduna preceded similar incidents in Sokoto State and came after those of the internally displaced persons in Borno State.

The United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria posted a statement on Saturday to condemn the kidnappings in Kaduna and Borno, while the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) published a similar release on Friday.

Othell Yarwyck, an X user, said that the US consulate made an official statement before the Nigerian government.

FIJ checked to verify Yarwyck’s claim.

CLAIM: “A shame that the US consulate made an official statement on this abductions before the Nigerian government. This is the result of a fraudulent electoral process… government don’t feel responsible to the people. It doesn’t need their consent to remain in power,” Yarwyck wrote on Sunday.

Yarwyck’s claim had been viewed over 8,500 times without a rebuttal at the time of drafting this report.

A shame that the US consulate made an official statement on this abductions before the Nigerian government.

This is the result of a fraudulent electoral process.. government don't feel responsible to the people. It doesn't need their consent to remain in power. https://t.co/5jxXZrDi1k
— Othell Yarwyck (@bigbrovar) March 10, 2024

VERIFICATION: The purported US consulate statement Yarwyck quoted was the US mission’s post on X, which read:

“The United States strongly condemns the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Kaduna and displaced persons in Borno. Our hearts go out to the victims’ families. We stand with you in demanding the perpetrators face justice and the immediate, safe return of all taken. We support Nigeria’s efforts to secure their release.”

This post was published on February 9.

The website of the US embassy and consulate did not have a statement on the kidnappings at press time.

While Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s president, did not give a speech or share a post on his social media pages to address the kidnappings, the executive arm of the federal government released an official statement on Friday.

The statement read in part:

“President Bola Tinubu condemns the heinous incidents of abduction involving very vulnerable victims, internally-displaced persons in Borno State, and students in Kaduna State.

“The President directs security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of these abominable acts.

“I have received briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued. Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered,” President Tinubu says.”

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, published another statement from the villa about the kidnappings on Saturday.

VERDICT: The claim that the US consulate made an official statement about the Borno and Kaduna abductions before the Nigerian government is false.

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