Fed Govt
FG may swap Boko Haram’s wives, kids for abducted girls
As part of
the ongoing backdoor talks with Boko Haram, the Federal Government may
be disposed to the release of people described as soft detainees of the
sect to secure freedom for the more than 200 school girls abducted by
the group last month.
The soft detainees are the wives and children of Boko Haram members in various facilities nationwide.
The government is not keen on outright swap of the girls with Boko Haram members in detention, The Nation gathered yeterday.
The Presidential Fact-Finding Committee
on the girls’ abduction yesterday in Maiduguri met with leaders of the
Chibok community.
A top source said last night that the talks are progressing well with feedback from both sides.
“The government may consider the release
of only soft detainees in line with international rules of engagement,”
said the source.
It added that the soft detainees are wives and children of Boko Haram members detained by the Federal Government.
“They are vulnerable people for whom the rules of engagement allow some human rights waivers,” the source added.
It described the gesture as a continuation of a similar approval by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013.
Responding to a question, the source added: “It is still at the level of contemplation. But the talks are ongoing.
“Certainly, there will be no outright swapping of the girls with Boko Haram members who are in detention.”
The source said the government was looking at this option because most Nigerians want the girls back alive.”
Asked about the stage of the rescue
operation for the girls, the source added: “Up till now, it is still at
the level of intelligence gathering, to locate where they are kept.
“Once the area or camp is located, it will not take less than six hours to liberate the girls.
“We have got intelligence report that
most of these girls are alive but we are trying our best to locate the
exact spot of the camp or camps where they are held hostage.”
Meanwhile, the Fact-Finding Committee yesterday met with leaders of Chibok Community in Maiduguri.
Spokesperson for the Committee,
Kingsley Osadolor, said the panel “ had made substantial progress in its
assignment,” and received the cooperation of the various stakeholders
it had interacted with.
“However, the work of the committee is not finished. The Committee will visit Chibok, and you will be informed accordingly.”
Osadolor also gave insight into the activities of the committee since Monday.
The statement added: “Military
Commanders, the state Commissioner of Police, state Director of the
Department of State Services, Commanders of Customs, Immigration, and
Prisons formations, as well as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence
Corps, have taken turns to brief the Presidential Fact-finding Committee
on the Chibok abduction.
“The meetings took place in Maiduguri,
Borno State, where the Committee is carrying on with its assignment. The
first round of interactions took place till late on Monday night, while
the second session continued on Tuesday.
“Others who have interfaced with the
Committee are principal officers of Government Secondary School, Chibok,
where the mass abduction took place, and the Chairman of Chibok Local
Government.”
The statement quoted the Chairman of the
Committee, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (rtd) as saying: “We are pleased
with the candour of the officers. In the light of what we have heard and
ascertained from the intensive engagement so far, I am confident that
the Committee will discharge its mandate.”
“Part of the Committee’s task is to
articulate a framework for a multi-stakeholder action for the rescue of
the missing girls, as well as mobilise the surrounding communities and
the general public on citizen support for a rescue strategy and
operation.
“The Commanders, who interacted with the
Fact-finding Committee, have been in the theatre of conflict with the
insurgents, including the material time of the abduction of the
schoolgirls.”
