Boko Haram/Chibok Girls Swap: It’s A Political Decision – CDS

Following the demands by the Boko Haram sect that the Federal Government swap detained Boko Haram members for the abducted Chibok girls, Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Gabriel Olonishakin has said it’s a political decision.

According to him, the military is continuing its operations in the North East and swapping the girls for the Boko Haram prisoners is a political decision and will not stop the military operations.

He made this comments to State House Correspondents after a meeting of the security chiefs at the Aso Villa.

LEADERSHIP recalls that on Sunday, Boko Haram sect released a new video showing the abducted Chibok girls and claiming that some of the girls were killed by air strikes launched by the Nigerian Air Force on their locations.

The video showed a masked armed man standing in front of several girls, who, he claimed, were the over 200 girls who abducted from their school hostel at Government Secondary School, Chibok, in 2014.

The man said the video was released to send a message to the parents of the girls to beg the Nigerian government to release Boko Haram members in various detention centres in exchange for the girls.

However, speaking to State House Correspondents, the Chief of Defence staff said the military is analysing the video released by Boko Haram and will make appropriate comments at the right time.

He pointed out the meeting was about how to handle crisis, all forms of crisis, be it flood or terrorism.

Asked on the Swap of Chibok girls with fighters, he said, “That is a political decision to be taken. The military decision is that we are going ahead with our operations. The operation is being conducted appropriately. ”

On claims by Ahmed Bolori, who was declared wanted by the Nigerian Army that military asked him to go home after he reported at one of its facilities in Borno State, Olonisakin said “Nobody reported to my men and was not turned back”

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Army in a statement had declared Ahmed Bolori, Ahmad Salkida and Aisha Wakil wanted for their alleged ties to the Boko Haram sect.

Also speaking to State House Correspondents, Minister of Information Lai Mohammed stated that the government’s position is clear that and are in touch with the Boko Haram sect.

He said “We are just being careful and cautious to ensure that we are talking to the right people especially with the news that there is a split in the leadership. But what is important is the safety and security of these girls.

“The thrust of my statement was to ensure the nation that we are on top of the situation. We are not even just reacting to the video, we have gone far beyond the video in talking to the group already.”

Commenting on the call for swap of the Chibok Girls with Boko Haram prisoners, he said, “Until you are able to ascertain the authenticity of those you are talking to, you don’t go into details.”

On the planned marching to the villa by BBOG, he noted that the government appreciate their commitment to the return of these girls but there are few things they need to do behind the scenes while affirming the commitment of the administration to rescue the girls.

“We are engaging them. By saying we are talking to them, I am talking from a point of knowledge. It does not matter what other people say. I know that the government is in touch with the group.

“Most people will forget the issue of these girls as soon as the effect of this video is over but the government is daily working on it,” he said.

Mohammed noted that until the release of this video, the effort is not attracting any attention. But everyday, the Office of the NSA and others concerned are working on it.

“For us, it is not just because of the release of the video but because of our belief that there will be no final closure to Boko Haram until we are able to resolve the issue of these girls,” he stated.

On his part, the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali said the meeting of the security chiefs was a little workshop that was arranged for them to understand how to respond to emergency issues, and how to be in the position to advise the President to take the right decisions under emergency cases either terrorism, flood or any other thing.

According to him, it was put together for chief executives to sit down and understand the process of taking decision when there is disaster.

“We are facing terrorism and we have disasters. There is information going round now that some states are going to witness flood. We never can tell when disasters will happen. We must be ready to be able to counter whatever happens”.