Chibok girls back in tears
TWENTY-one of the Chibok schoolgirls returned yesterday in tears and emaciated. One of them has a baby.
The government gave the details of how the schoolgirls kidnapped two and a half years ago were released.
The girls are among the over 200 Chibok Girls Secondary School pupils taken from the premises on April 14 2014.
Reports said the 21 girls were swapped with four detained Boko Haram fighters at Borno State border town Banki.
But the government denied there was a swap.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited the
girls and the baby at the Directorate of State Services (DSS) medical
facility in Abuja after they were brought to the Federal Capital
Territory.
With the VP were his wife, Dolapo, Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and Minister of Women Development Hajia Aisha Alhassan.
Presidential Spokesman Garba Shehu, in a
statement, said: “The release of the girls, in a limited number is the
outcome of negotiations between the administration and the the Boko
Haram brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government.
The negotiations will continue.
“The President welcomes the release of
the girls but cautioned Nigerians to be mindful of the fact that more
than 30,000 fellow citizens were killed via terrorism.
Explaining how they were released,
Alhaji Mohammed said: “We can confirm that 21 of the girls were
released, safely, to us by 5.30 this Thursday morning and they were
flown to Kaduna from the location of their release. This is the most
glaring manifestation to date of the unwavering commitment of Mr.
President to secure the safe release of the girls and reunite them with
their families.
“It is also a result of the
round-the-clock efforts by the Administration to put a closure to the
sad issue of the kidnap of the girls.”
Mohammed gave insights into how the girls were released.
He added: “Gentlemen, as we have always
said, we have been working on the safe release of the girls and
following all the leads available. In this instance, the moment we had a
credible lead, Mr President gave the green-light to the DSS to pursue
it.
“We can confirm that the DSS pursued the
lead in collaboration with a friendly European country and a renowned
international humanitarian organization. The DSS was supported by the
military.
“As soon as the necessary confidence was
built on both sides, the parties agreed on the date and the location of
the release of the 21 girls. Please note that this is not a swap. It is
a release, the product of painstaking negotiations and trust on both
sides.
“We see this as a credible first step in
the eventual release of all the Chibok Girls in captivity. It is also a
major step in confidence-building between us as a government and the
Boko Haram leadership on the issue of the Chibok Girls.
“We want to thank all Nigerians for
their support and for never losing confidence in the ability of Mr.
President to secure the safe release of our Chibok Girls.”
The minister said the release of the girls could mean a new phase to the conduct of the war against terrorism
He added: “Whatever it will take to get
Boko Haram insurgency under control, we will do it through military
operation, peace talk, dialogue and whatever. I think all in all, when
you are fighting insurgency, it is a combination of carrot and stick.
The Federal Government will continue to adopt carrot and stick approach.
“The release of 21 out of the Chibok
girls does not mean the end of military operation it could mean a new
phase to the conduct of the war against terrorism.
“These negotiations are very delicate
bearing in mind that we still have more girls in captivity we must not
do anything to jeopardize their release.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has made it
clear that what it will take to get the girls in captivity from the Boko
Haram insurgents we will do it.
“We have always been looking for leads. This time around, we were able to have a credible lead.”
On the insinuations that some members of
Boko Haram were swapped to secure the release of the girls, the
minister responded: “That is not true.”
“If you listen, I said this particular
release is significant because it is a first step in what we believe
will lead to the eventual release of all our girls in custody.
“And it is significant also because we
have been able to establish ever than before a kind of confidence in the
core leadership of Boko Haram and Nigerians. And I am not aware of any
monetary transactions.
“This is not a swap. This was a release
effected because over time we succeeded in confidence building. This is
unique because we also used friendly approach and friendly organization
and friendly countries. I repeat this is not a swap.”
He expressed confidence that the government will work towards the release of other girls in Boko Haram custody.
“This particular release is significant
because it is just a first step in what we believe will eventually lead
to release of other girls in custody.
“The Federal Government will not relent until the whole girls gain total freedom,” he said.
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