We can’t reveal information about Chibok Girls – UK
The British Government has reportedly stated that it would not reveal what its soldiers found out while searching for the girls.
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A screenshot of some Chibok girls who were abducted by Boko Haram in April 2014 (Sky News) |
According to reports, the United Kingdom has said that it can’t release certain information about the Chibok Girls because it would damage ties with Nigeria.
The British Government has reportedly stated that it would not reveal what its soldiers found out while searching for the girls.
The disclosure was made after Ben Oguntala, the founder of UK-based group, Security in Africa, wrote to the British Ministry of Defence for information on the missing schoolchildren, Punch reports.
Oguntala’s organization requested “results and reports of the British Armed Forces, the details of where they searched and the results of their findings as well as “details of the technology, technique or methodology used in the search and the consequential results.”
However, the British Ministry of Defence (MOD), in its reply, said some of the information requested by Oguntala “falls entirely within the scope of the qualified exemption provided for at section 27 (International Relations) of the FOIA and has been withheld.”
The MOD’s reply read:
“Section 27 is a qualified exemption and is subject to public interest testing which means that the information requested can only be withheld if the public interest in doing so outweighs the public interest in disclosure.”
“Section 27(1)(a), (1)(c) and (2) have been applied because some of the information has the potential to adversely affect relations with our allies. The Public Interest Test concluded that whilst release would increase public understanding and confidence in the relation the United Kingdom has with other international states in its assistance with operations, the balance of the public interest lay in withholding the information you desire.”
“We have considered it necessary to apply the higher level of prejudice against release of the exempted information at the higher level of ‘would’ rather than ‘would be likely to’ adversely affect relations with our allies.”
The MOD however shared details of the “technology, technique or methodology” used in the search.
Oguntala however stated that his organization would not be discouraged but would instead approach British Prime Minster,David Cameron to get more information on the girls’ whereabouts.
“I have had several persons suggesting that I drop the matter and claiming Boko Haram is being used by political players. This information request approach means if the British government declares what it knows, there will be no place for Nigerian political players to hide,” Oguntala said.
The over 200 Chibok girls were abducted from their school in Borno State on April 14, 2014
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