The Federal Government through the Information and Culture Minister Lai
Mohammed, explained their intense efforts to release the Chibok girls
kidnapped by Boko Haram at a press conference in Abuja Friday. Mohammed
said the Federal Government is still working on the release of the girls
and appealed to the parents of the Chibok girls and Nigerians to
believe in the government's ability to secure the release of the girls.
He said:
“Precisely on July 17, 2015, the DSS opened the negotiation process
with the group holding the Chibok girls. However, in return for the
release of some of these girls, the group also made some demands. “These
included the release of some of their fighters arrested, including some
involved in major terrorist actions, resulting in several fatalities,
and others who were experts in manufacture of locally assembled
explosives.
“This was difficult to accept, but appropriate security agencies had to
again inform Mr. President of these demands, and its viewed
implications. Again, Mr. President gave his assent, believing that the
overall release of these girls remains paramount and sacrosanct.
“Meanwhile, following the above development, government and the security
agencies had sufficient leverage to work out the modalities of the
swap.
“These included creating the safe haven, or necessary place of swap and
working out the logistic details. Based on this, the DSS availed other
critical sister agencies of this new situation. “Immediately, the
Nigerian Army and the Air Force sent some specialists to commence a
detailed arrangement for the swap. This was during the last week of July
2015 and 1st week of August 2015.
“The officers representing the various agencies worked out the logistic
details, such as the number of persons to be swapped i.e. number of
girls and detainees to be exchanged, the vehicles and aircraft, as well
as safeguards, i.e. safety of the persons, including the location of the
swap.
“When it was finally agreed by all parties, Mr. President was again
informed that the preparations were concluded, and the first step for
the swap would commence on August 1, 2015. Mr. President robustly gave
his approval.
“On August 4, 2015, the persons who were to be part of the swap
arrangements and all others involved in the operation were transported
to Maiduguri, Borno State. This team, with the lead facilitator,
continued the contact with the group holding the Chibok girls.
“The service was able to further prove to the group its sincerity, as it
established communication contact between it and its detained members.
All things were in place for the swap which was mutually agreed.
Expectations were high.
“Unfortunately, after more than two weeks of negotiation and bargains,
the group, just at the dying moments, issued new set of demands, never
bargained for or discussed by the group before the movement to
Maiduguri. All this while, the security agencies waited patiently. This
development stalled what would have been the first release process of
the Chibok girls.
“It may be important to note that in spite of this setback, the
government and the security agencies have not relented in the bid to
ensure that the Chibok girls are released safely.
“By the month of November, precisely November 13, 2015, another fresh
negotiation process with the group was initiated. This time, there was
the need to discuss a fresh component in other to avoid issues that had
stalled the former arrangement.
“There were, however, some problems that many may not discern, but should be expected in this kind of situation.
“Some critical persons within the group, who played such vital role in
August, 2015, were discovered to be dead during combat action or as a
result of the emerging rift amongst members of the group then. These two
factors delayed the process. In spite of these, negotiation continued
on new modalities.
“By November 30, 2015, it was becoming glaring that the division amongst
the group was more profound. This affected the swap process.
“By December 10, 2015, another negotiation process was in place, but
this failed to achieve results because of the varying demands by the
group.”
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