Nigerians Are Mad at Buhari For Arriving On a Red Carpet When Visiting the Families of the Missing Dapchi Girls
The president visited the site where 110 schoolgirls were abducted on Wednesday, but his visit provided little reassurance.
It has been nearly a month since 110 schoolgirls, were abducted by Boko Haram at a boarding school in Dapchi, Nigeria—located in the northeastern state of Yobe.
President Buhari made a long-overdue visit to the state yesterday to meet with the girls' families, promising them that the country "will not rest" until the girls are returned home safely," reports CNN. "We have re-equipped our armed forces, security and intelligence services," said the president during his speech, before assuring families that "any agency, person or group found to have been negligent or culpable" would face punishment.
"The government, under my watch, will continue to maintain normalcy and ensure that incidents of this nature are stopped," he continued.
Nigerians are not convinced.
Buhari—who is often criticized for his failure to act speedily in times of crisis—arrived at the Government Girls Science Technical College in Dapchi, about 24 days after the incident took place, with 6 helicopters, a government entourage and a full military crew—even rolling out a red carpet to walk on upon his arrival.
His appearance did more to anger families than to comfort them. Several parents told BBC Africa, that they were not reassured by the president's words, and remain disappointed by his lack of action in dealing with the matter. According to the publication, one mother called him out directly, asking where the soldiers he had traveled with were when her daughter was kidnapped.
Nigerians on social media have also expressed anger at the president's actions, many comments focusing particularly on his decision to arrive on a red carpet.
How can you visit a scene where people are being kidnapped and be walking on the red carpet? I doubt if anybody wo… https://t.co/INQE6eb4BM— Yẹmí Òkè 🇳🇬 (@Yẹmí Òkè 🇳🇬)1521050732.0
So Buhari received red carpet (like a physical red carpet) treatment at Dapchi, is that what is important...or for… https://t.co/2dI5O08ldV— Seyi Yerokun (@Seyi Yerokun)1521106255.0
What movie premiere,is this red carpet for? What’s is the title of this movie? Who directed this movie? Who’s is th… https://t.co/SV0o1TESJG— ije1 (@ije1)1521096651.0
Who needs red carpet in a house of mourning? President Buhari visits Government Girls Science and Technology Colleg… https://t.co/fulpU8GNN5— Rotimi Akinola (@Rotimi Akinola)1521045558.0
See a photo of Buhari in Dapchi to supposedly console distraught parents of kidnapped school girls, but he's walkin… https://t.co/Jo0TK3JLZx— Farooq Kperogi, Ph.D (@Farooq Kperogi, Ph.D)1521115106.0
With the red carpet rolled out for Buhari during his Dapchi visit, they'd have also invited Beyonce to complete the… https://t.co/feJYJ13Y6q— Charles the 1st (@Charles the 1st)1521093035.0
I have 99 issues with Nigeria, and President Buhari getting a red-carpet welcome at the #Dapchi school where 110… https://t.co/Pd8lEDpjE2— Nigeria Forever (@Nigeria Forever)1521062316.0
Inner Buhari: I’ve failed in my primary duty to secure lives of citizens. This is not the time for ‘red carpet’ wel… https://t.co/7EeGjcUer5— Abdulaziz Bakare (@Abdulaziz Bakare)1521116355.0
A man on a mission to sympathise with grieving families as a result of his gross incompetence ended up walking bold… https://t.co/eJPxmu3EOx— kellz (@kellz)1521075109.0
Red carpet on the same ground girls were kidnapped? This Buhari is the butt of the joke of this nation. https://t.co/YLgqrMlSbt— NEGUS (@NEGUS)1521063487.0
Buhari is an affliction. May it not befall on us again. Red carpet? https://t.co/fpIh54fkDt— Yomi (@Yomi)1521064660.0
Buhari given a RED carpet when he visited Yobe over the #DapchiGirls We have finally gone mad in this country https://t.co/IHkda6z2nx— DID YOU KNOW (@DID YOU KNOW)1521054456.0
