FG Negotiates Release Of 83 More Chibok Girls

Few days after the release of 21 girls abducted from
Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram, the Federal
Government and the insurgents have set in motion  negotiations for the release of 83 more girls.

This was revealed on Sunday, October 16, 2016 by Presidential spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed the
negotiation, in an interview with Reuters Foundation.

Shehu said a faction of Boko Haram leaders had,  last week, assured the President Muhammadu
Buhari administration they had the girls in their custody.

“These 21 released girls are supposed to be tale bearers to
tell the Nigerian government that this faction of Boko Haram has 83 more Chibok
girls. 

The faction said it is ready to negotiate if the government is willing
to sit down with them.”

President Buhari has repeatedly said he would be willing to
negotiate with the group if its genuine leaders are identified.

The Boko Haram faction said the remaining kidnapped Chibok
girls were with another faction of the sect controlled Abubakar Shekau, Reuters
Foundation quoted Shehu as saying.

Recently, Boko Haram split into at least two faction with
one believed to be controlled by Shekau, and another by Musab al-Barnawi, said
to be the son of the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf, killed in 2009 by security
agents.

Last Thursday, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed denied
reports that government swapped captured Boko Haram fighters for the girls’
release.

In Germany, Buhari said he was not informed of what the
government traded for the girls.

He said he would receive full briefing after arriving in
Nigeria this week.