Reports Suggest that Islamic insurgents, Boko Haram have shifted their ground and agreed to release the 219 chibok girls who were kidnapped over 5 months ago.
Preceding this recent development, it can be recalled that the Federal government went into secret talks with a senior representative of the insurgents named Umar in which he insisted that not more than 30 girls would be released on the condition that 18 of their crucial group members in custody should also be released.
Both parties were unable to come to an agreement which forced the meeting to a stalemate. Not long after, president of the Civil Rights Congress(CRC), Comrade Shehu Sani, allegedly put together a meeting between them in Abuja which was attended by officials of the 'International Community Of the Red Cross'.
According to 'The Nation', the both parties came to a conclusion that all the 219 abducted girls would be released in exchange for 18 crucial Boko Haram members. The Final agreements of the meeting will be taken back to the superiors of both parties to finalise the new conditions.
The Government was also warned by the insurgents to desist from any military rampage to secure the release of the girls in order to avoid putting the girls in harms way. They also made it clear to the Federal government that they have the capacity to fight for the next 45 years.
According to a source present in the meeting,“The sect shifted its position and agreed to release all the girls instead of 30 Christian married girls it had promised. But Boko Haram said it does not trust the government going by previous experience.
“If the government had respected previous talks, the Chibok girls were initially meant to be off the hook during the Eid-el Fitr festival. Again about two weeks ago, a delegation was already in Maiduguri until the swap deal was bungled.
“Some security agents only advised on the release of six out of the 18 leaders of the sect. They rated the rest 12 as dangerous.
“When the insurgents found out, they backtracked and demanded the release of the 18 leaders. The development paved the way for the latest talks in Abuja which involved the ICRC.”
The Federal government has also come out to say that they will not comply with the demands of the insurgents until all the abducted girls are set free.
Another source present at the meeting also said, “We generally agreed that all the parties should go back to their leaders on the agreement reached. The government said no to piecemeal release of the girls and Boko Haram claimed that it will not have any business with the government until all the 18 leaders of the sect are freed.
“After the Eid-el-Kabir festival, the two parties will meet again on the terms to finalise the agreement or part ways.
“Before the meeting rose, Boko Haram representatives warned against the use of force to liberate the girls. It also made it clear that it had the “capacity to take on the Federal Government for the next 45 years.”
A third source present at the meeting gave further information that, “The delegation from Boko Haram said the outcome of the latest round of talks will determine whether they should ceasefire or not.”
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