Negotiations are currently ongoing for the release of about 30 of the Chibok girls kidnapped on the 14 of April this year by Boko Haram sect, in the negotiation involving the Red Cross the sect reportedly wants to trade the 30 girls for 30 of its memebers taken into custody by the nigerian government. The nation reports
A fresh move to secure freedom for some of the over 200 school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram in April, is underway.
The Federal Government and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have opened discussion with the sect for the release of the girls, according to agency reports yesterday.
The girls, contrary to fears in many quarters, are also said not to have been raped or used as sex slaves.
The terror group is seeking the release of at least 30 of its members imprisoned by government in exchange for some of the girls, reports said
The three parties have met up to four times on the issue within the last one month.
“The two Boko Haram negotiators assured the ICRC and government negotiators that the girls were never raped, were never used as sex slaves and were never sexually assaulted,” one report quoted a source as saying. Boko Haram and Nigeria haven’t been able to see eye-to-eye regarding the number of girls to be exchanged for the 30 prisoners.
“They were only ready to release one to one, which the government was not going to accept,” the source said.
Boko Haram submitted a list with the names of 30 members who were either convicted or awaiting trial on terror offences.
The sect has expressed a willingness for a swap with the ICRC at an undisclosed location, according to the source. But there was disagreement on some terms, including the number of girls involved in the swap.
Boko Haram had insisted on an even swap – 30 girls for the 30 commanders – but the government refused, according to the source.
Another hurdle in the talks was Boko Haram’s insistence on meeting the imprisoned 30 members involved in the swap, but they only had contact with six at their detention centre, the source said.
The six prisoners include Kabiru Sokoto, a senior Boko Haram commander convicted in December 2013 of terror charges related to the deadly Christmas Day bombing of a church in the town of Madallah in 2011.
“ICRC couldn’t find where the remaining 24 were being detained,” the source said.
The Boko Haram negotiators said they would get back to the government after consulting with superiors.
ICRC sources declined to comment.
Previous effort, to negotiate with Boko Haram for the girls’ release failed.
The last was by the Australian priest, Stephen Davies who returned to his country in frustration after several weeks in the country.
The Federal Government denied engaging him
Davies sparked controversy when he said prominent politicians and government officials were aiding and abetting the sect.
Former Borno State Governor, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff and the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika who were insinuated as backers of the sect strongly denied the allegation.
The Directorate of State Service (DSS) declared Ihejirika innocent of the allegation but said it was investigating Sheriff who, a few days after, was spotted with President Goodluck Jonathan during a visit to neighbouring Chad to discuss the Boko Haram menace with President Idris Deby.
The Presidency, reacting to criticism, said Sheriff, was not part of the President’s entourage and that he was only at the Ndjamena Airport to receive the President having arrived that country earlier.
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