After much persuasion, Boko Haram
has agreed to release the abducted 219 Chibok girls if the Federal Government
will simultaneously set free its 18 key commanders.
TheNation reports that the two parties have asked their
representatives to go back to their leaders on the new swap deal proposal.
Prior to the latest agreement at the talks in Abuja, which was witnessed by some officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Boko Haram had insisted on a piecemeal release of the girls, with priority given to 30 married Christians among them. The Federal Government also offered to release six of the 18 sect leaders in detention.
The two sides maintained a parallel stand until they met again in Abuja at a
session facilitated by the President, Civil Rights Congress (CRC),
Comrade Shehu Sani. The sect said if the government attempted to secure the
girls by force, it might lead to fatalities. At the meeting, Boko Haram also
maintained that it had the capacity to “engage the Federal Government for 45
years”. It said the outcome of the talks would determine the end of the
insurgency.
Prior to the latest agreement at the talks in Abuja, which was witnessed by some officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Boko Haram had insisted on a piecemeal release of the girls, with priority given to 30 married Christians among them. The Federal Government also offered to release six of the 18 sect leaders in detention.
Some of those at the talks gave insights into the new dimension to the moves to free the Chibok girls, who were abducted from their hostel on April 15. It was gathered that the session was attended by ICRC officials.
One of those who attended said:
The sect shifted its position and agreed to release all the
girls instead of 30 Christian married girls it had promised. But Boko Haram
said it does not trust the government going by previous experience. If the
government had respected previous talks, the Chibok girls were initially meant
to be off the hook during the Eid-el Fitr festival. Again about two weeks ago,
a delegation was already in Maiduguri until the swap deal was bungled.
Some security agents only advised on the release of six out
of the 18 leaders of the sect. They rated the rest 12 as dangerous. When the
insurgents found out, they backtracked and demanded the release of the 18
leaders. The development paved the way for the latest talks in Abuja which
involved the ICRC. By the new arrangement, ICRC will pick up the girls and
simultaneously hand over the detained 18 leaders to Boko Haram. The government
also said it would not free the detained leaders of Boko Haram until all the
girls were released.
Asked what was eventually agreed upon, another source at the session said:
Asked what was eventually agreed upon, another source at the session said:
“We generally agreed that all the parties should go back to
their leaders on the agreement reached. The government said no to piecemeal
release of the girls and Boko Haram claimed that it will not have any business
with the government until all the 18 leaders of the sect are freed. After the
Eid-el-Kabir festival, the two parties will meet again on the terms to finalise
the agreement or part ways.
Before the meeting rose, Boko Haram representatives warned
against the use of force to liberate the girls. It also made it clear that it
had the “capacity to take on the Federal Government for the next 45 years.”
Responding to a question on whether the sect will end the insurgency or not, another source said:
Responding to a question on whether the sect will end the insurgency or not, another source said:
“The delegation from Boko Haram said the outcome of the
latest round of talks will determine whether they should ceasefire or not.”
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