The Federal Government and terrorist sect Boko Haram have
entered the final stage of negotiations for the release of more Chibok
schoolgirls.
entered the final stage of negotiations for the release of more Chibok
schoolgirls.
276 schoolgirls were abducted from a Government Secondary
School in Chibok, Borno State, two years ago.
School in Chibok, Borno State, two years ago.
A fortnight ago, 21 of the girls were released following
negotiations brokered by the Swiss Government and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
negotiations brokered by the Swiss Government and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
“The Federal Government is in the final stages of negotiations
to set free more of the girls.
to set free more of the girls.
We are looking at getting more than 80 out of
Boko Haram custody this time”, said one Presidency source who pleaded for
anonymity for this story.
Boko Haram custody this time”, said one Presidency source who pleaded for
anonymity for this story.
Asked when the next batch will be received by the government
and people of Nigeria, the source said: “Soon…soon enough. Nigerians will have
cause to celebrate soon enough”.
and people of Nigeria, the source said: “Soon…soon enough. Nigerians will have
cause to celebrate soon enough”.
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| Released Chibok School Girls |
Another security source spoken to for this story told Pulse
that a swap deal with the insurgents is on the cards.
that a swap deal with the insurgents is on the cards.
“We aren’t ruling out a swap for the simple reason that Boko
Haram is using these girls as bargaining chips.
Haram is using these girls as bargaining chips.
The girls are all they have
now. If we bombard the place with drones to rescue the girls, Boko Haram will
use them as human shields and we could lose some of the girls.
now. If we bombard the place with drones to rescue the girls, Boko Haram will
use them as human shields and we could lose some of the girls.
“We’ll probably be exchanging 14 Boko Haram commanders
for 84 Chibok girls”, offered the top security source.
for 84 Chibok girls”, offered the top security source.
According to another source within the Presidency, the
Federal Government has stepped up efforts to have all the girls rescued before
Christmas.
Federal Government has stepped up efforts to have all the girls rescued before
Christmas.
There is renewed confidence within the corridors of power
that having established authentic communication channels with Boko Haram heads,
all the girls will return home soon enough.
that having established authentic communication channels with Boko Haram heads,
all the girls will return home soon enough.
“We just want all the girls back”, said another military
source. “Once we have them, we can then move to crush Boko Haram once and for
all. We have practically decimated and degraded the sect and they know this”.
source. “Once we have them, we can then move to crush Boko Haram once and for
all. We have practically decimated and degraded the sect and they know this”.
A Presidency source added: “We are negotiating from a
position of strength right now because we have the sect by the balls. Very
soon, Nigerians will have cause to cheer
again”.
position of strength right now because we have the sect by the balls. Very
soon, Nigerians will have cause to cheer
again”.
Lai Mohammed who is the Minister of Information and Culture,
had expressed confidence that more Chibok girls will soon regain their freedom
after the first batch of 21 made their way out of Boko Haram custody.
had expressed confidence that more Chibok girls will soon regain their freedom
after the first batch of 21 made their way out of Boko Haram custody.
“We see this as a credible first step in the eventual
release of all the Chibok girls in captivity. It is also a major step in
confidence-building between us as a government and the Boko Haram leadership on
the issue of the Chibok girls,” Mohammed had said.
release of all the Chibok girls in captivity. It is also a major step in
confidence-building between us as a government and the Boko Haram leadership on
the issue of the Chibok girls,” Mohammed had said.
There have been reports that a swap deal between Boko Haram
and the Federal Government was struck before the first batch of 21 made their
way out of Sambisa forest.
and the Federal Government was struck before the first batch of 21 made their
way out of Sambisa forest.
Officially, the Federal Government has denied it entered
into a swap arrangement with the insurgents. However, intelligence sources and
back channels have maintained that there was indeed a swap.
into a swap arrangement with the insurgents. However, intelligence sources and
back channels have maintained that there was indeed a swap.
