President Muhammadu Buhari’s comment that his government is ready to swap detained Boko Haram commanders with the over 200 abducted Chibok school girls, has aroused interest in a number of individuals and groups, who have approached the Presidency with offers to facilitate the deal, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, has said.
Shehu, said multiple groups with claims of contact with the Boko Haram group, had come forward with the proposal to link the government with the Boko Haram faction that is holding the girls, after the President gave the green light in Kenya, last week.
Recall, that Buhari had told Journalists on the sidelines of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD, in Nairobi last weekend, that his government was prepared to take all the necessary measures to ensure the release of the girls.
“What we said is that the government, which I preside over, is prepared to talk to bona fide leaders of Boko Haram.“If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognised non-governmental organisation, convince them that they are holding the girls, and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know.
“If they do it through the ‘modified leadership’ of Boko Haram, and they talk with an internationally recognised NGO, then, Nigeria will be prepared to discuss for their release,” he said.
Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday, Shehu, said the Federal Government was being “prudent, careful and scrupulous” in every line of action it was taking to secure the freedom of the girls.
For that reason, he said the nation’s intelligence agencies had been involved in scrutinizing the groups that had come forward, as well as their claims.
He said: “The comments by the President have aroused interests and offers in certain quarters, from people who claim to have contacts with the group (Boko Haram). The intelligence agencies are scrutinizing them. They are being careful this time around, because of what happened in the past.“Every offer is being investigated and verified. The President has always maintained that he wants to see a group that has the mandate of the sect, and has a proof of possession (of the girls), and the willingness to discuss.“Nobody knows the way to the girls, but all options are being followed. Every line of action will be followed to a logical conclusion, with the hope that this time around, we will get it right. The President is very passionate about returning these girls to their parents,” he said.
He however, said the government would be guided by the provisions of the constitution, when the need arises to discuss the release of the Boko Haram commanders, in exchange for the girls.
“There is nothing the government will do in releasing the commanders that will violate the constitution of the country. Everything will be done in accordance with the provision of our laws,” he noted.
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