Some powerful Nigerians are sabotaging efforts of the Federal Government and other concerned citizens to ensure that the over 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram are set free.
This shocking revelation was made by the fearless Shehu Sani, who is the President, Civil Rights Congress, in an exclusive chat with Punch. He has been involved in efforts to get government and Boko Haram to discuss the fate of the girls in the past, and knows all that is going on.
He said the the powerful individuals have ensured that the talks to secure the girl's release derailed.
Shehu Sani’s disclosure came even as the federal government has once again begun fresh talks with the dreaded Boko Haram sect to secure the release of the young girls.
According to Punch, reports have claimed that the girls have been sighted in camps inside Sambisa Forest, in some border towns near Cameroon and in the Central African Republic.
President Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Sani, and a United Arab Emirates-based Nigerian freelance journalist, Ahmad Salkida, who had communication channels with Boko Haram, had offered to mediate between the government and the sect.
But some men close to the Presidency always frustrates their efforts. But Obasanjo is set to try again.
There are speculations that recently President Goodluck Jonathan and Obasanjo held a meeting to discuss how to negotiate the release of the girls.
Sani, who is one of the negotiators facilitating the current talks, said:
“What I want to tell you is that something is being done about it but I’m not disposed to making it public. Most times, publicising these issues always lead to sabotage by those who do not want the girls freed. I will not mention the names of these Nigerians.
“However, I can tell you that real and genuine moves are going on, which I am a part of. The claim that the girls have been abandoned is not true. There are genuine efforts by government and some individuals, who are discreetly making efforts toward getting their (pupils’) safe return home.”
Sani noted that the girls could only be freed either forcefully or through dialogue and negotiation.
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