CHIBOK: Boko Haram Might Have Recalled Swap Option
Exclusive reports indicate that Boko Haram insurgents have dropped the previously suggested option to swap nearly 300 abducted Chibok schoolgirls for the sect prisoners, Vanguard reports.
Photo: President Goodluck Jonathan and the abducted girls
It has been also gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan forbade all his ministers and aides to comment on any point connected with the Federal Government (FG) campaign aimed at the kidnapped students' rescue.
Referring to the sources close to the terrorist group, the Telegraph of London said that Boko Haram abandoned its demands for its top commanders to be released in exchange for the girls, because the group realized that it would be politically impossible for the authorities.
The FG had first claimed they were not going to enter negotiations with the terrorists, however the source was quoted saying by the Telegraph:
"Contrary to the public rejection of any swap deal by the Nigerian government, there are some on-the-ground talks taking place... An agreement was reached about two or three days ago in principle to start releasing some prisoners."
According to the source, the group wanted some lower-level militants and families of Boko Haram fighters to be released, some of them taken into custody by the authorities in order to emotionally pressurize the militants. After that Boko Haram promised to start "gradual" release of some 100 of the abducted girls, possibly starting this week.
"Depending on how the other side responds, the girls will be released in small groups. They will be left at a certain safe location, and the authorities will then be told where they can pick them up from," said the source.
However after the Paris anti-terrorism summit held on May 17, when Nigeria and its neighbours declared "war" on the Boko Haram insurgents, the militants could be encouraged to withdraw the swap option, the Telegraph source revealed.
'No comment' policy
Vanguard has learnt that the President urged all his ministers and presidential spokespersons not to comment on the find-and-rescue campaign because of the uncoordinated responses by some officials to criticisms by Nigerians over dealing with the security situation.
Following this ban, holding of two important news conferences on the issue were said to have been stopped.
Meanwhile in accordance with the Presidential directive, the newly-formed National Information Centre now meets on a daily basis to decide on common positions to be addressed by the spokesman Omeri.
Source: Legit.ng
