Fresh reports say that Boko Haram group has finally agreed to free
all the Chibok girls for 18 sect commanders currently in detention.
It would be recalled that less than two weeks ago it was reported
that the insurgents had agreed to release only 30 female students
abducted in April in exchange for 18 key group members. The decision was
allegedly made after the Nigerian authorities had held secret talks
with one of Boko Haram seniors identified as Umar.
This Saturday it was gathered that the International Committee of the
Red Cross and the Nigerian government were holding long-time
negotiations on the issue.
According to the Nation, the agreement on 219 girls release was reached.
It has been reported that the two parties asked their representatives to go back to their leaders to discuss the new conditions.
At the meeting said to be facilitated by the President, Civil Rights
Congress (CRC), Comrade Shehu Sani, it was allegedly claimed that if the
girls were tried to be released by force, it might lead to fatalities.
One of those who attended the session 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.”
The source also said that the Nigerian authorities promised to release the 18 leaders as soon as all the girls were let go.
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