Boko Haram keep making fresh demands during talks over release of Chibok girls

BOKO Haram has stepped up the ante in its negotiations with the federal government over the release of the over 200 pupils it kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok two years ago making fresh demands before it lets them go.

 

In April 2014, Boko Haram abducted the girls from their boarding school in Borno State and has held them in captivity ever since. Using them as a bargaining chip, the terrorist sect had initially insisted that they will only be released in exchange for its fighters being detained by the government.

 

Later it appeared that with the Nigerian military gaining the upper hand in the fight with the terrorists, Boko Haram were hoping to use the girls to negotiate an amnesty for its members in the event of a surrender. Yesterday, however, information minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that the insurgents keep moving the goalposts and continuously come up with fresh demands.

 

Alhaji Mohammed said a deal was yet to be struck because the terrorist group kept making fresh demands from government that were neither bargained nor discussed. He added that after the current administration first contacted the group in August 2015, it mobilised security agencies to Maiduguri and fine-tuned details, including the number of terrorists to be swapped for the girls and agreed a location where the swap would take place.

 

However, Boko Haram had made some demands, including the release of some of their fighters and others who were specialists in the manufacture of locally-made bombs. He added that regrettably, after more than two weeks of negotiation, talks broke down and stalled what would have been the first release process because the terrorist group made fresh demands which government rejected.

 

Also, Alhaji Mohammed said that on November, 13, 2015, another fresh negotiation process with the group was initiated but that also did not make headway because some critical persons within the group, who played key role in August, 2015 talks were discovered to be dead during combat action. Some others could not play prominent roles a result of the emerging rift amongst members of the group.

 

Alhaji Mohammed added: "These two factors delayed the process bit in spite of these, negotiations continued on new modalities. By 30th November, 2015, it was becoming glaring that the division amongst the group was more profound and this affected the swap process.

 

"By 10th December, 2015, another negotiation process was in place but this failed to achieve results because of the varying demands by the group. Since the beginning of 2016, the security agencies have not only remained committed but have also taken the lead to resolve the Chibok girls’ issue."

 

He added that despite of the current division amongst members of the terrorist group, renewed efforts have commenced using trusted facilitators. Alhaji Mohammed said establishing the genuity of the contact group was a Herculean task as hostage taking and releasing is not like a football match involving Chelsea and Arsenal.