Buhari invites UN to negotiate with Boko Haram in bid to secure freedom for Chibok girls

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has told the United Nations (UN) secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, that Nigeria will welcome international intermediaries to negotiate with Boko Haram over the release of the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped from Chibok over two years ago.

 

In April 2014, the pupils were abducted from their boarding school in Borno State and despite a concerted international campaign, remain in captivity. Boko Haram is believed to be holding them as a bargaining chip to get its members released and to secure an amnesty from the government.

 

On at least three occasions, the government has tried to dialogue with Boko Haram to secure the release of the girls but so far this has not produced any results. Yesterday, President Buhari told the 71st UN General Assembly in New York that the Nigerian government was willing to bend over backwards to free the Chibok girls.

 

President Buhari said: “The challenge is in getting credible and bona fide leadership of Boko Haram to discuss with but the split in the insurgent group is not helping matters. The government had reached out, ready to negotiate but it became difficult to identify credible leaders, so we will welcome intermediaries such as the UN outfits to step in.”

 

Campaign group BringBackOurGirls, said it supported President Buhari’s invitation to the UN in the negotiations with Boko Haram. BBOG’s spokesmen, Abubakar Abdullahi, said the group endorsed any step that would facilitate the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls.

 

While addressing the UN, President Buhari noted that the teachings of Boko Haram were far from being Islamic, adding that neither Islam nor any other religion advocated hurting the weak and the innocent. He also commended Mr Ban Ki-Moon for the moral and material support given to Nigeria, which had enabled the country to surmount many of the challenges it had faced.

 

President Buhari added: “The fact that they kill men, women, children and other people wantonly, and shout Allahu Akbar shows that they do not know Allah at all. If they did, they would not shed innocent blood.”

 

Also, Esther Yakubu, the parent of one of the abducted girls, said she supported any move that would fast-track the release of her daughter. She added that she would support any move that will bring her daughter back, so if the president feels the involvement of the UN will facilitate the release of the girls, it is welcome.