Boko
Haram, which abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in Borno a month ago, has
backed down on its demand for a release of its top commanders by government
before the abducted girls could be released.It has also emerged that President
Goodluck Jonathan has banned all his ministers and presidential spokespersons
from commenting on any issue relating to the campaign by the Federal Government
to rescue the girls. This came as the Defence headquarters warned against
unauthorised visits to the areas of operation by tourists and journalists,
saying such venture was risky.A screengrab taken on May 12, 2014, from a video
of Nigerian IslamistThe Telegraph of London, in an exclusive report, quoted
sources close to the militant Islamist group as saying that the sect has
abandoned its demands for its top commanders to be released that could see
“gradual” release of the schoolgirls as early as next week.In a significant
concession, the group was said to have abandoned demands for its top commanders
to be released, seemingly aware that this would be politically impossible for
the Federal Government.The Telegraph first reported details of Boko Haram’s
offer of an imminent prisoners exchange last Tuesday, when sources close to
some of the militants’ families said that a senior Islamic cleric from the
northern part of the country would be appointed to mediate on its behalf with
the government.According to the Telegraph, the cleric has since been joined by
a former aide to one of the group’s founders. No man has been named, possibly
for their safety. While the Federal Government has insisted that it is not
willing to enter prisoners swap negotiations, the source claimed that dialogue
had already been going on in secret for several days.“Contrary to the public
rejection of any swap deal by the Nigerian government, there are some
on-the-ground talks taking place,” the Telegraph quoted its source as saying
adding that “an agreement was reached about two or three days ago in principle
to start releasing some prisoners.”He said that among the prisoners that the
group wanted released would be wives and families of Boko Haram fighters, some
of whom have been taken into custody by the Federal Government in order to
exert emotional pressure on the fighters. “The group also has a list of lower-level
fighters that it wants released as well, but they are not high-profile ones,”
the source added.He said that in exchange, Boko Haram was willing to start a
“gradual” release of around 100 of the girls – possibly beginning as early as
the coming week. “Depending on how the other side responds, the girls will be
released in small groups. They will be left at a certain safe location, and the
authorities will then be told as to where they can pick them up from.”Details
of the offer emerged as officials investigated reports that Boko Haram was
responsible for the kidnapping of up to 10 Chinese workers in neighbouring
Cameroon, where the group now also has a presence.On Saturday, Nigeria and its
neighbours, including Cameroon, Benin, Chad and Niger declared “war” on Boko
Haram after an international summit in Paris hosted by the French President,
François Hollande.The offensive will involve co-ordination of surveillance
efforts aimed at finding the girls, the sharing of intelligence, the tightening
of border controls, and a regional counter-terrorism strategy with Western
help.The Telegraph source said Boko Haram leaders had been upset by the
declaration of “war” at the Paris summit, and that this could encourage it to
withdraw its offer.At the summit, the countries agreed to forge a regional
counter-terrorism strategy with expertise and training support from Britain,
France, the European Union and the United States.Britain will host a follow-up
meeting to discuss the Boko Haram crisis next month. It is thought that the
kidnapped schoolgirls are being held somewhere in either North-East Nigeria or
across the border in CameroonBoko
Haram, which abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in Borno a month ago, has
backed down on its demand for a release of its top commanders by government
before the abducted girls could be released.It has also emerged that President
Goodluck Jonathan has banned all his ministers and presidential spokespersons
from commenting on any issue relating to the campaign by the Federal Government
to rescue the girls. This came as the Defence headquarters warned against
unauthorised visits to the areas of operation by tourists and journalists,
saying such venture was risky.A screengrab taken on May 12, 2014, from a video
of Nigerian IslamistThe Telegraph of London, in an exclusive report, quoted
sources close to the militant Islamist group as saying that the sect has
abandoned its demands for its top commanders to be released that could see
“gradual” release of the schoolgirls as early as next week.In a significant
concession, the group was said to have abandoned demands for its top commanders
to be released, seemingly aware that this would be politically impossible for
the Federal Government.The Telegraph first reported details of Boko Haram’s
offer of an imminent prisoners exchange last Tuesday, when sources close to
some of the militants’ families said that a senior Islamic cleric from the
northern part of the country would be appointed to mediate on its behalf with
the government.According to the Telegraph, the cleric has since been joined by
a former aide to one of the group’s founders. No man has been named, possibly
for their safety. While the Federal Government has insisted that it is not
willing to enter prisoners swap negotiations, the source claimed that dialogue
had already been going on in secret for several days.“Contrary to the public
rejection of any swap deal by the Nigerian government, there are some
on-the-ground talks taking place,” the Telegraph quoted its source as saying
adding that “an agreement was reached about two or three days ago in principle
to start releasing some prisoners.”He said that among the prisoners that the
group wanted released would be wives and families of Boko Haram fighters, some
of whom have been taken into custody by the Federal Government in order to
exert emotional pressure on the fighters. “The group also has a list of lower-level
fighters that it wants released as well, but they are not high-profile ones,”
the source added.He said that in exchange, Boko Haram was willing to start a
“gradual” release of around 100 of the girls – possibly beginning as early as
the coming week. “Depending on how the other side responds, the girls will be
released in small groups. They will be left at a certain safe location, and the
authorities will then be told as to where they can pick them up from.”Details
of the offer emerged as officials investigated reports that Boko Haram was
responsible for the kidnapping of up to 10 Chinese workers in neighbouring
Cameroon, where the group now also has a presence.On Saturday, Nigeria and its
neighbours, including Cameroon, Benin, Chad and Niger declared “war” on Boko
Haram after an international summit in Paris hosted by the French President,
François Hollande.The offensive will involve co-ordination of surveillance
efforts aimed at finding the girls, the sharing of intelligence, the tightening
of border controls, and a regional counter-terrorism strategy with Western
help.The Telegraph source said Boko Haram leaders had been upset by the
declaration of “war” at the Paris summit, and that this could encourage it to
withdraw its offer.At the summit, the countries agreed to forge a regional
counter-terrorism strategy with expertise and training support from Britain,
France, the European Union and the United States.Britain will host a follow-up
meeting to discuss the Boko Haram crisis next month. It is thought that the
kidnapped schoolgirls are being held somewhere in either North-East Nigeria or
across the border in Cameroon
Let will of God bring these girls back to their parents and please my fellow mindful Nigerians,Let us pray for a referendum that will lead to a smooth division of the country.
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