The Federal Government says its inability to swap the Chibok girls with detained Boko Haram terrorists in August was because the people who came forward and claimed to have the girls did not have them.
The terrorists had last month demanded that the federal government release their detained members as a key condition to release the over 200 Chibok school girls they abducted more than two years ago.
Addressing a press conference on the matter in Abuja at the weekend, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed said the swap arrangement worked out by various agencies, such as the number of persons to be swapped such as number of girls and detainees to be exchanged, the vehicles and aircraft, as well as safeguards, safety of the persons, including the location of the swap was also stalled due to issued new set of demands by the Boko Haram group which were never bargained for or discussed by the group before the movement to Maiduguri stalling what would have been the first release process of the Chibok girls.
Inspite of the set back encountered by the federal government in the first bid to swap the girls, mohammed said the the government and the security agencies did not relent its oars in the bid to ensure that the Chibok girls are released safely, but by November, initiated another fresh negotiation process with the group.
The negotiation, according to the minister was to discuss a fresh component in order to avoid issues that had stalled the former arrangement.
“However, some problems that many may not discern, and some critical persons within the group who played such vital role in August, 2015 were discovered to be dead during combat action or as a result of the emerging rift amongst members of the group then therefore delaying the process for new modalities for negotiation to be set in light of the glaring division amongst the group which was more profound.
Explaining further, the minister noted, “When it was finally agreed by all parties, Mr. President was again informed that the preparations were concluded, and the first step for the swap would commence on 1st August, 2015. Mr. President robustly gave his approval. On 4th August, 2015, the persons who were to be part of the swap arrangements and all others involved in the operation were transported to Maiduguri, Borno State. This team, with the lead facilitator, continued the contact with the group holding the Chibok girls.
“The Service was able to further prove to the group its sincerity, as it established communication contact between it and its detained members. All things were in place for the swap which was mutually agreed. Expectations were high. Unfortunately, after more than two (2) weeks of negotiation and bargains, the group, just at the dying moments, issued new set of demands, never bargained for or discussed by the group before the movement to Maiduguri. All this while, the security agencies waited patiently. This development stalled what would have been the first release process of the Chibok girls.’
“It may be important to note that in spite of this setback, the government and the security agencies have not relented in the bid to ensure that the Chibok girls are released safely. By the month of November, precisely 13thNovember, 2015, another fresh negotiation process with the group was initiated. This time, there was the need to discuss a fresh component in other to avoid issues that had stalled the former arrangement. There were however some problems that many may not discern, but should be expected in this kind of situation. Some critical persons within the group who played such vital role in August, 2015 were discovered to be dead during combat action or as a result of the emerging rift amongst members of the group then. These two factors delayed the process. In spite of these, negotiation continued on new modalities.”
“By 30th November, 2015 it was becoming glaring that the division amongst the group was more profound. 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.”
The Minister reiterated that the security agencies since the beginning of 2016 have not only remained committed taken the lead to resolve the Chibok girls’ issue in spite of the current division amongst members of the terrorist group, which has seriously affected efforts to release the girls, but renewed its efforts of her trusted assets and facilitators to strategize new modalities as the ability to deal with a group that can easily change its demands without notice is enormous.
The minister said the Officers and men have sacrificed their time and energy, and some have already paid the supreme price since the abduction of the Chibok girls, fighting for the safe release of the girls.
He equally acknowledged that many friendly countries and organizations have equally been very forthcoming in providing their human and technological resources to assist in the process. “They are still doing so. We cannot as a nation ignore these sacrifices.”
He reiterated that the Government and its security agencies remain committed to ensuring that the Chibok girls are safely released in fulfillment of the Presidential mandate while appreciating the resilience of Nigerians in the fight against insurgency and terrorism, with a plea to the parents and relatives of the Chibok girls that the government feel their pains and shall not relent until it succeed in bringing home the girls and every other citizen abducted by the group
