Northern elders and groups from the North comprising Islamic scholars and politicians claimed to be reaching out to Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau to secure the release of the 276 abducted girls.
The groups who have contacts with the terror group are suggesting the two options to secure the girls freedom.
The options are either payment of ransom or the release of some detained members of Islamic terror group, Boko Haram as a form of swap.
Besides the deployment of troops, the government has not made up its mind on the two options favoured by many Northern leaders.
Northern leaders, including Borno elders who met with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja, are opposed to the use of force to rescue the girls or deployment of foreign troops.
The elders said that the force alternative may provoke Boko Haram to kill the abducted girls.
A highly-placed source said: “The Presidency and Northern elders or leaders are trying to seek solutions to the abduction of the girls. This was why the President met with Borno elders yesterday.
“The President is giving listening ears to all groups in view of the determination of the government to save the girls from being killed; and the local and international pressure to rescue the girls.
“The disposition of Northern elders has so far indicated that they are opposed to the use of force.”
The source, who pleaded not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter, said the affected groups are Northern elders/leaders; some insurgents in detention; and influential Islamic clerics in the North.
The source added: “The statement by Boko Haram leader Shekau was a coded message that he will not kill these girls. So, he has left a window or possibility for negotiation or bargain.
“This is why these groups are pushing for either monetary bargain with Boko Haram or release of some detained insurgents in exchange for some of the abducted girls, but a major challenge is that ransom to insurgents is a crime in our anti-terrorism law.
“If the options are acceptable to the government, these groups might meet with a team from the insurgents at a neutral ground to negotiate.
Among the delegates were former Minister of Education, Prof. Jibril Aminu, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babagana Kingibe, Senator Abdul Ningi, Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil and Hon. Mohammed Kumalia. -
All these old thieves have come again. What happened to the report of the team set up to speak to boko haram.let the American troops be allowed to do the job. You fools who call your self elders should go and sleep.let the young ones xome alive.committee upon committe no actoon. Thieves all of you. Your end has come. Our girls must come home .
ReplyDeleteUr correct,so they knw what 2 do that will not affect dem.wen they knw that fingers will start point 2 some of them they now knw who to. Dialogue with,they re not doing anything they jst want to steal our money and go on exile,they should allow the army and foreign aid do the jo well cos they employed these BH to disrupt jona administraion,now these BH re more than them they re now creating rm 4 dialogue
ReplyDeletePeople let ask ourselves these questions
ReplyDeleteIs it right to negoiate with terrorist?
Why should d president invite d USA security and stil go ahead to meet with people who has been in touch with the kidnapers
Is this an atempt to abort help coming from the US dat will expose al involved
Why has our leaders kept quit all this years over the actions of the Bokos, is it that they are partners or they have sometime exchanged favors that made this boys unchallengeable
Nigerian ECOMOG are very good in handling war, why weren't they deployed from the onset even till now to handle this issue, could dat implicate some unsuspected people
Will US carry out the mission they are here for or this girls will be released before 12 May
Paying ransome to BH will make kidnapping lucrative and many more kidnaps will follow. Also if Kidnapping will lead to release of their members in detention through swap. Many more kidnaps will also follow. Pls let us allow US, etc. to bring new style into this fight.
ReplyDeleteThe same people that went to seek for help from USA
ReplyDeleteDem don hear say America dey come. Dem de fear say some of their foreign accounts wey dem de take sponore boko America go find them freez. This na am. Abeg make them come bo . Which kind negotiate wey dem no fit do since.
ReplyDeleteWith all this I think we knw the people behind boko haram... Mr President let the Americans work enough is enough!
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to suspect that these so-called northern elders know more than they are willing to spill.
ReplyDeleteThe two conditions they have given to the government are inordinately spurious, nonsensical and completely reprehensible.
I'll bet 99-1 that they know the sponsors already, having reached out to these criminals.
Boko haram insurgents in detention should be freed (so that they can go and continue bombing people?) Gosh!!! Is Nigeria a comedy movie?
These so called elders are bunch of confusionists.They threatened to take Ihejirika to world court for using too much force. Boko haram overran the airforce base and ransacked the Giwa army barracks.(Shame on our coup plot specialists). The elders kept quiet.They are at it again. No room for their negotiation. They've played their last card!
ReplyDelete1 min · Like