The Federal Government has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari had actually made an attempt to swap detained terrorists in exchange of Chibok school girls under the captivity of Boko Haram.
According to the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, the President had agreed to swap Boko Haram elements with the girls as early as his first two months in office only for the sect’s leaders to make more difficult demands and eventually buckle the process.
The minister’s revelation is coming weeks after the sect reiterated the same condition in a video.
President Buhari had also said his administration was ready to negotiate with the sect and consider the swap deal.
The President has been under pressure from BringBackOurGirls campaigners and patients of the missing girls to fulfill his campaign promise of rescuing the girls.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, the minister said: “Precisely on 17th July, 2015, the DSS opened negotiations process with the group holding the Chibok girls.”
“However, in return for the release of some of these girls, the group also made some demands. These included the release of some of their fighters arrested including some involved in major terrorist actions, resulting in several fatalities, and others who were experts in manufacture of locally assembled explosives.”
“This was difficult to accept, but appropriate security agencies had to again inform Mr. President of these demands, and its viewed implications.
“Again Mr. President gave his assent believing that the overall release of these girls remains paramount and sacrosanct.”
The minister regretted that even as President Buhari was prevailed upon to accept the group’s difficult demands, they reneged on their part of the agreement and the entire process ended in failure.
He however reiterated the administration’s commitment to ensure the kidnapped girls are freed.
“The government and its security agencies remain committed to ensuring that the Chibok girls are safely released in fulfillment of the Presidential mandate,” he said.
