CRIMINAL fraudsters have attempted to cash in on the government's attempts to free the Chibok girls by posing as go-betweens who can negotiate a deal with the terrorist sect Boko Haram if they are paid substantial amounts of money.
Since the Chibok girls were abducted from their boarding school in April 2014, the government has been keen to secure their release and President Muhammadu Buhari has not ruled out negotiating with the terrorists to achieve this. Over recent weeks, there have been rumours that Boko Haram is prepared to release the 219 girls in exchange for an amnesty.
With the possibility of a negotiated solution in the offer, criminal minds have sought to cash in on the situation by posing as intermediaries. Yesterday, President Buhari confirmed that some fraudsters had approached the federal government for money to secure the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls.
President Buhari made the revelation while receiving the primate and archbishops of the Church of Nigeria at the State House in Abuja. According to the president, while the rescue and safe return of the remaining Chibok girls remained a top priority of his administration, he would not fall for the antics of the fraudsters.
He said that his administration would continue to insist on a thorough authentication of the identities and bona fides of any persons or groups claiming to have custody of the girls before entering into negotiations with them. Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, pledged the support of the church in helping the federal government achieve its objectives of improving security and the welfare of Nigerians.
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