The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

How Boko Haram ‘charms teenage suicide bombers’

A 14-year-old would-be suicide bomber has revealed how Boko Haram terrorists draft young girls to detonate explosives to kill.

She survived after choosing not to detonate an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, after being strapped with it and sent on a mission to kill.

According to her, she was sent on the mission after she refused marriage proposals from top Boko Haram members in Sambisa Forest.

She is among three suspects arrested by the military when they allegedly came for a suicide mission at a military facility in Jakana, Maiduguri.

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri yesterday that she was abducted alongside her father, Usman, by Boko Haram insurgents in Gwoza, Borno State, in 2013.

She said she and her father were running to Mandara mountains for safety when they were abducted.

The suspect said she and her father wanted to travel to Madagali in Adamawa State where he sold cows before Boko Haram insurgents attacked Gwoza.

“I have spent three years in the hands of Boko Haram. Three different Boko Haram chief (terrorists) had proposed to marry me and I refused. Two among them were commanders (amir).

When I refused for the third time, one of the commanders became furious and threatened to kill me and my father. I told him I would rather die than marry a Boko Haram (terrorist). So, after one week, they said since I have refused to get married, I should be taken to Maiduguri for a suicide mission. So, three of them held my hands and they injected me. Then, I never knew what was happening again.

“I was taken to a herbalist, who, after I regained consciousness, told me that I had been with him for 30 days.

“He told me he was preparing me for a mission. So he gave me some water to drink. I don’t know what it tasted like but I drank it. So, he said they would come and pick me today.

“At about 7p.m. three Boko Haram (members) came with a male and a female. They were also recruited for the mission like me.

“We spent one and a half days on the road to Maiduguri. It was when we got to Maiduguri that they strapped the bombs on our bodies. At that moment I knew that I was going to die, so I started crying.

“I was watching when the first bomber, a female, detonated her explosive close to a military checkpoint which killed no one but herself. The second, a male, was killed by the military before he could detonate his.

“At that time something told me to remove my own IED and surrender which I did. I was surrounded by soldiers and policemen and I fainted.

“When I woke, I discovered that one of the policemen at the checkpoint was a brother of my mother’s. I think that was the reason I survived,’’ the suspect said.

The outgoing Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, said the suspects were being de-radicalised at the military detention facility.

“We have quite a number of them here in our facility. We have been profiling them and making them feel comfortable.

So far, from their testimonies, they usually tell us that they were brainwashed by some sort of charms to commit suicide – Gen. Irabor said.

Also yesterday, the Army arrested a suspected terrorist who had been on the run at Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman said in a statement that four suspected kidnappers were also arrested at Mundu village in the state, following a tip-off.

“They were found to be in possession of one locally made six-loader single barrel gun, one empty cartridge, two machetes, a knife, two handsets, two packets of tramol tablets and N360,” he said.

He further said that investigation into the arrests would continue.

May 15, 2017
Confession of teenage Boko Haram girl

A 14 year old female suspected suicide bomber says Boko Haram leaders chose her to detonate an Improvised Explosive Device in Maiduguri because she refused to get married to their members in Sambisa Forest.

The suspect is among three suspects arrested by the military when they allegedly came for a suicide mission at a military facility in Jakana in Maiduguri.

The suspect told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Sunday that she was sent on the mission to detonate the device because she refused marriage proposals from three Boko Haram terrorists.

The suspect said she was abducted with her father, Usman, by Boko Haram insurgents in Gwoza, Borno, in 2013.

She said she and her father were running to Mandara Mountain for safety when they were abducted.

The suspect said she and her father wanted to travel to Madagali in Adamawa where he normally sold cows before Boko Haram insurgents attacked Gwoza.

“I have spent three years in the hands of Boko Haram. Three different Boko Haram (terrorists) had proposed to marry me and I refused. Two among them were commanders (amir).

” When I refused for the third time, one of the commanders became furious and threatened to kill me and my father. I told him I would rather die than marry a Boko Haram (terrorist).

“So, after one week, they said since I have refused to get married, I should be taken to Maiduguri for a suicide mission. So, three of them held my hands and they injected me.

” Then, I never knew what was happening again.

‘’I was taken to a herbalist, who, after I regained consciousness, told me that I had been with him for 30 days.

“He told me he was preparing me for a mission. So he gave me some water to drink. I don’t know what it tasted like but I drank it. So, he said they would come and pick me today.

” At about 7p.m. three Boko Haram (members) came with a male and a female. They were also recruited for the mission like me.

“We spent one and a half days on the road to Maiduguri. It was when we got to Maiduguri that they strapped the bombs on our bodies. At that moment I knew that I was going to die, so I started crying.

” I was watching when the first bomber, a female, detonated her explosive close to a military checkpoint which killed no one but herself. The second, a male, was killed by the military before he could detonate his.
“At that time something told me to remove my own IED and surrender which I did. I was surrounded by soldiers and policemen and I fainted.

” When I woke, I discovered that one of the policemen at the checkpoint was a brother of my mother’s. I think that was the reason I survived,’’ the suspect said.

Meanwhile, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, said the suspects were being de-radicalised at the military detention facility.

“We have quite a number of them here in our facility. We have been profiling them and making them feel comfortable.

“So far, from their testimonies, they usually tell us that they were brainwashed by some sort of charms to commit suicide,” Irabor said.

May 14, 2017
Boko Haram: We need injection of fresh ideas in military -Minister

A fresh injection of new ideas and strategy is required in the military to fully win the war against terrorism and defeat other acts of criminalities in troubled areas of the country, Defence Minister Mansur Dan-Ali has said.

The Minister, speaking at the maiden graduation of the Air War Course 1 of the Air War College, Makurdi said the threat of terrorism and insurgency demanded new skills in the development of a new containment measure.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonishakin, the minister said the injection of new ideas and strategy was a priority for the three services -army, air force and navy- as it is the only way to effectively defeat terrorism in the country.

He praised the Air Force (NAF) for the establishment of the Air War College and for successfully graduating its first set of students six months after the establishment.

He said the NAF had played a critical role not only in defending the territorial integrity of the country but also playing crucial roles in maintaining internal security.

Dan-Ali said: “The Air War College came on board at a challenging time of our national security when we are battling a myriad of internal security issues particularly terrorism by the Boko Haram set in the northeast. The threat posed by the insurgents has impacted negatively on human capital and resources of the nation.

“As the air arm of the armed forces, the NAF has been playing a crucial role in the counter insurgency operations in the northeast where our officers, airmen and women have performed gallantly. We are proud that in less than two years, we have revitalized the armed forces for the full restoration of Nigeria’s territorial integrity that was once violated by Boko Haram insurgents.

“To the officers of the Air War Course Class of 2016, your graduation today after rigorous training marks a new phase in your career in national service. This is coming at a time when injecting fresh ideas into the nation’s security system has become one of the top priorities of the services.

“Moreover, the threat of terrorism, insurgency and other security challenges demand new skills in the development of effective containment measures. This is where your knowledge of joint operations, in general and air power in particular will be required to further ensure that peace returns to the northeast and other troubled zones of the country. I have no doubt that the exposure you have at the Air War College has further prepared and equipped you for the task ahead, I am optimistic that your contributions to your service and the armed forces of Nigeria will be impactful in no distant time.”

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said the graduating students were equipped with the needed capacity and ability to handle diverse complex issues arising from all military operations.

“What is important to us is that with this training, those that have benefited have been properly re-positioned now to understand all the complex issues involved in air operations. They have been equipped, they have been given all that is required in terms of understanding issues of logistics support for air operations, issues of integrating what you are doing with what the other services are doing, issues of coordination, all these are very fundamental issues which this course has captured. They are now better positioned to understand what is required of them if they are deployed to operate either as a single service setting or in a joint operation,” Abubakar said.

The Air War College was inaugurated on November 18, 2016 with 30 students. According to the Commandant of the College, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) James Baba, the course comprised of 22 Group Captains, five Wing Commanders of the NAF, one Lieutenant Colonel of the Nigerian Army and two Commanders from the Nigerian Navy.

Three awards were given out for best performances including the Best Individual Research Paper won by Group Captain Simon Peter, the Chief of Air Staff Award won by Group Captain Michael Ekweme and the overall best student won by Group Captain Olayinka Oyesola.

A new set of students will be admitted in June 2017.

May 14, 2017
Boko Haram: We need injection of fresh ideas in the military –Minister

A fresh injection of new ideas and strategy is needed in the Nigerian Armed Forces in order to fully win the war on terrorism in the northeast and defeat other acts of criminalities in troubled areas of the country, Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali has said.
The Minister, who spoke at the maiden graduation ceremony of Air War Course 1 of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air War College in Makurdi said the threat of terrorism and insurgency demands new skills in the development of a new containment measure.
Represented by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonishakin, the minister said the injection of new ideas and strategy has been a priority for the three Services as it is the only way to effectively defeat terrorism in the country.
He praised the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for the establishment of the Air War College and successfully graduating its first set of students six months after the establishment.
He said the NAF has played a critical role not only in defending the territorial integrity of the country but also playing crucial roles in maintaining internal security.
Dan-Ali said: “The Air War College came on board at a challenging time of our national security when we are battling a myriad of internal security issues particularly terrorism by the Boko Haram set in the northeast. The threat posed by the insurgents has impacted negatively on human capital and resources of the nation.
“As the Air arm of the armed forces, the NAF has been playing crucial role in the counterinsurgency operations in the northeast where our officers, airmen and women have performed gallantly. We are proud that in less than two years, we have revitalized the armed forces for the full restoration of Nigeria’s territorial integrity that was once violated by Boko Haram insurgents.”

May 13, 2017
Military dismisses B’Haram Commander’s videos as empty threats

Two new video by one of the Boko Haram Commanders released by the Federal Government in exchange for the 82 Chibok girls in which he issued threats to attack the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and other locations have been dismissed by the Nigerian Military as “mere propaganda.”
The videos which was posted on social media by a freelance journalist Ahmad Sakilda also featured three of the abducted Chibok girls holding an Ak47 rifle while one identified as Maida Yakubu also spoke threatening the country.
The Commander, identified as Shuaibu Moni also issued threats to Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari saying there can be no peace but war between the group and Nigeria. He also said more than five Commanders from the terror group were released in exchange for the Chibok girls while also warning of imminent attack in Abuja.
He said there has been no “sulhu” or dialogue with the government and there wont be saying “ only war is between us.”
But in a swift response, the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman said the terrorists have lost touch of current realities. “ In the first clip, the terrorist among other things made boastful and spurious allegations, while the second clip was about alleged indoctrination of some of the abducted Chibok school girls in captivity. We wish to state that the terrorist has lost touch with current realities,” Usman said.
He also said the videos were designed and aimed at seeking relevance and attention. “ As you are all aware, he was a direct beneficiary of the process that led to the release of 82 of the abducted girls and does not have a say or capacity to do anything, therefore his threats should be ignored,” the Army declared.
The military also assured the public that the Nigerian Army is totally ”committed to the Federal Government’s determined efforts of rescuing all abducted persons and peace in the country.”
Usman: “ We will not relent our determined efforts of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists as manifested through the ongoing clearance operations. The Nigerian Air Force is unrelenting in its bombardment while other security agencies are equally doing their best. We should not give in to terrorists propaganda and empty threats, we have come to a very critical stage of the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria that require more patriotism and security consciousness.
“Gone were the days when people glamourize terrorists and their criminal acts,” he said.

May 13, 2017
Initially released Chibok girls to return to school – Minister

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan on Thursday said negotiations are going on to exchange the remaining Chibok girls with Boko Haram detainees.

Alhassan who spoke with newsmen in Abuja on the present state of the recently released 82 girls said they are currently undergoing rehabilitation and reintegration processes in various medical facilities across the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

“Negotiations are ongoing to exchange the remaining girls with Boko Haram detainees we can’t afford to keep them any longer,” she said.

The Minister who condemned insinuations that the Federal Government is shielding the parents and the media from having access to the girls said there is the need for the girls to be taken through some process to relieve the trauma they passed through while in captivity.

“Most of them were having nightmares some days after they were released, we need to keep them away from the media for some time to avoid some questions that they might be asking them, we are not keeping nor hiding them”

“We are not shielding the girls from their parents, the parents of the recently released 82 girls have already been contacted and they will be in Abuja any moment from now, most of them live in villages very far from Borno town, so it will take some time before they can get to Abuja”

On the other 21 girls released before now, the Minister said they will be returning back to school in September alongside the recently released ones.

“The 21 girls initially said they won’t like to go back to school in Chibok but after the various rehabilitation and reintegration process they have gone through, they are now set to return to school in September, they are now fit and eager to go back to school”

” The girls have gone through a lot of reintegration process that will make them fit to return to school, they are now medically fit, they have gone through various vocational skills including ICT training, their parents are always in touch in them

“I always take them to movies and parks during weekend, they are now fit to return home but we must ensure that they forget all the traumatic experience they passed through while in the Bush before they can go back to Chibok,” she said

May 11, 2017
Boko Haram, Chibok girls and other matters
Nigeria is indeed a critical U.S. partner. Nigeria matters to us because it’s Africa’s most populous country, and depending on the price of oil, it’s either the biggest or the second biggest economy on the continent. With a current population of 182 million, Nigeria is projected to grow to over 400 million over the next few decades, which will leave it by the middle of this century as the fourth-largest country in the world. About half the population is Muslim. Nigeria has influence, as many of you know, not only as an economic power, as a military power. It’s got a vibrant emerging, entrepreneurial class which is the future of that country’s economy. It has also got a vibrant film and music industry which has influence well beyond its borders. And I’d like to point out it has traditions of democracy and free press and religious tolerance, all of which contribute to its resilience and its strength.

In 2015, Nigeria had a very important election. It elected Muhammadu Buhari as president. This represented the first time in Nigerian history that there was a peaceful, democratic transfer of power from one party to an opposition party. It was a milestone not only for Nigeria, but really for Africa as a whole. President Buhari’s electoral platform was that he wanted to fight insecurity, particularly the depredations of Boko Haram and other forces in the Northeast. He wanted to grow the Nigerian economy, create jobs for its growing population, and he wanted to fight corruption.

Well, the nice thing about that agenda is that it meshes very well with our own. That is – those are areas of focus that very much are consistent with U.S. interests in Nigeria. We too want to partner Nigeria and its neighbours to fight terrorism. We too support private-sector-led economic growth. And we are very much in favour of President Buhari’s campaign against corruption. With that as kind of an overview, I’d like to open it up to questions.

Nigeria is a very important place for us and it faces enormous obstacles, enormous challenges moving forward. I don’t want to give the impression that any of this is going to be easy. In fact, one of our ways of approaching this country is to point at that perhaps nowhere else on the continent, and maybe few places on the planet, is the gap between the upside potential and the downside risk greater. The future of Nigeria matters not just for Nigeria, but very much for its neighbours and I would argue for this planet. The good news is that on issue after issue, we’ve gone from a place where we were often not on the same page with Nigeria to a place where we see things very much in the same terms.

Some folks may be aware of the humanitarian situation in Northeastern Nigeria and its neighbouring countries in the Lake Chad Basin. We are a leading donor of humanitarian assistance there, as the countries involved struggle to deal with a food crisis, which is itself a consequence of the Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa insurgency. Many of you will have also followed the news of the release of the Chibok girls over the weekend. Obviously, that was a heartwarming and positive development for the young women involved and for their families. We’d like to point out that they’re among thousands of victims of Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISIS West Africa.

We are engaged with Nigeria and its neighbours not only to provide humanitarian relief to the victims of this insurgency, but to help them as security partners and as intelligence partners to address the security dimensions of this problem and to get at some of the drivers of insecurity. Because at the end of the day, I think we and our partners all recognise there’s no purely military solution. At the end of the day, the hopes and aspirations of the people need to meet; education and water and basic governance need to be provided in areas where they have not been provided before. And it’s a joint effort. There are no easy solutions, but we’re in this for the long haul.

That’s a little bit of additional context. I’d like to point out that United States has worked closely with Nigeria. We provide a range of assistance to Nigerian authorities in their efforts to combat Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa. That includes intelligence sharing, training, advice on strategic communications, and various services to support victims of Boko Haram. And as I said, we’ve provided close to $500 million in humanitarian assistance over the last two years to those affected by the conflict in Northeastern Nigeria and its neighbours – neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

Again, that’s an overview of where we are in a very important bilateral relationship for us. I’d like to point out as well that we’ve worked together closely in the United Nations. We’ve worked together on issues of arms proliferation, nuclear questions. So Nigeria has a voice in Africa that is quite influential. And I’ve worked on Africa for most of my professional career, and it’s very good to be in a good place with this group.

One of the critical consequences of the Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa insurgency, which has been going on since 2009, is that it has produced terrible consequences for the population. As the militaries have begun to coordinate their activities more effectively, they and other not just military authorities but civilian authorities have gained access to areas previously under the control of Boko Haram. And as that happens, we have all come to understand more clearly the true dimensions of the humanitarian crisis.

So the United Nations has pointed out that there are more people facing famine-like conditions in Northeastern Nigeria and in neighbouring regions. We’re working as hard as we can and as fast as we can to deliver food assistance and other support to those people. I’ve quoted the numbers on our own humanitarian assistance a couple of time. I think I would add that just on April 28th the United States announced an additional $30 million to support the people of Northeast Nigeria through contributions to the World Food Programme. The World Food Programme, I would add, has expanded the numbers of people it is feeding by tenfold over the last two to three months. So the numbers have gone from roughly 200,000 to close to 2 million. The World Food Programme needs additional assistance; we’re working with other donors and partners to get that assistance to them. It’s a collective effort, and none of it is going to get fixed until the insurgency is defeated and the specter of terrorist violence is eliminated from that area.

We are very pleased that we are the lead humanitarian donor in the Lake Chad Basin region. We’ve got a vigorous bilateral development assistance programme that’s dominated by health assistance, including the PEPFAR programme, which has really helped turn back the tide of HIV/AIDS not just in Nigeria but across the African continent.
- Holt is United States Deputy Director, Office of West African Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs. The above are excerpts from a teleconference he had with reporters from Washington yesterday.
May 10, 2017
Boko Haram: NGO hold peace symposium for 500 Yobe youths

Not fewer than 500 youths drawn from Geidam Local Government of Yobe state have converged for a peace symposium on Geidam, the headquarters of Giedam Local Government.

The event which was  put together by Centre for Innovative Community Development(CICD) in collaboration with Northeast Regional Initiative (NERI) was held at the multipurpose Hall of Geidam Polytechnic over the weekend  with the theme; ‘Promoting Youth Participation in Peacemaking and Religious Tolerance ‘.

Presentations were made on rich  topics on peace and security  including Peace and Development; The Roles of Youth in Community Peace Building Process; Culture, Political and Religious Divides; Gender Based Violence; Community Role in Disarmament, De-Radicalization and Re- Integration for Ex-combatant; Roles of Government and Security Agencies in Community Peacebuilding efforts  among others.

Speakers and resource persons at the event admonished  youths to shun of all sorts of social vices so  as they do not mortgage their future, just as they were equally challenged to learn to live and tolerate one another in the society irrespective of his religious or ethnic background.

In his remarks at the event, the Emir of Ngarzargamu  Alhaji Tijjani Saleh Gaidam called on youth to shun all forms of drug abuse, observing that such vice are fertile gradients on which the Boko Haram insurgents thrived.

Saleh said the consumption of illicit drugs has ruined the lives of many youths that were fully involved in Boko haram militancy.

The Emir, who was represented by District head of Pichimiram, Mohammad Zannah Nur said for sustainable peace to endure, youths should be tolerant and respectful to everyone irrespective of religious or cultural background.

“I am appealing to Youths across Gaidam, Yobe and indeed the entire Northeast to desist from the act of sales and consumption of illicit drugs, which is the root cause of the Boko haram militancy.

“You should be veritable instruments for peace and development instead of becoming ready weapons of destruction of your own people as we have witnessed in this crisis. You should  never  allow yourselves to be used for conflict, war and insurgency,” the Emir advised.

He tasked government and security agencies to deal decisively against illegal drugs and those consuming the products..

Another District Head, Alhaji Ali Lawan, called on youths to listen to their parents, constituted authority and pledged more loyalty to Nigerian Nation.

Some of the participants who spoke with The Nation expressed hope for a better Nigeria in the future,

Aisha Nuhu informed that the training has open her horizon to new things. She stated that there has been a lot of gap between what they get and what the media

Highlights of the symposium were the presentation of   public lectures, Peace road-walk, and participants’ engagement in throughout the sessions.

May 9, 2017
Arik Air resumes Maiduguri flights, donates items to IDPs

Arik Air on Tuesday resumed flight operations to Maiduguri, after suspending flights to the North Eastern city since 2013 due to insecurity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the airline’s Boeing 737-700 aircraft landed at the Maiduguri International Airport at 11.06 am and was received by aviation personnel and other dignitaries.

Speaking to newsmen, the Vice President, Northern Operations of the airline, Mr Hamza Bukar, commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for restoring peace to the North East region.

Bukar recalled that the airline suspended operations to Maiduguri in December 2013 following the attack on the airport by Boko Haram insurgents.

“We are here in line with the achievements by the government of the day. They have done a very good job.

“Security in Borno State has been restored. The state is now in the eyes of the international community and that is why Arik wants to be a part of the success story.

“We want to complement efforts made by the government and we are here to reclaim our position as the pacesetter of aviation in West Africa,’’ he said.

Bukar said flights to Maiduguri via Abuja would operate three times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with the possibility of increasing frequency in the coming weeks.

The Airport Manager, Maiduguri International Airport, Mr Mohammed Saidu, in his remark, said that security had improved in the state which led to the return of commercial flight operations.

Saidu said Medview Airline and Azman Air were already operating flights in and out of Maiduguri, noting that the return of Arik Air would give passengers more options.

Meanwhile, some officials of Arik Air visited the Teachers Village Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp and donated relief items to them.

The items, which included foodstuffs, clothes and sanitary products, were received by the camp officials on behalf of the displaced persons from Ngala and Kukawa Local Government Areas of the state.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bukar said the gesture was aimed at supporting the efforts of the Federal and Borno State Governments in ameliorating the plights of those displaced by insurgency.

“This is one of the numerous corporate social responsibilities of the company to the state. It is our time to give back to the society,’’ he said.

The vice president congratulated the governor and the people of the state for the peace achieved and prayed for its sustenance.

Responding, the Camp Coordinator, Mr Ali Idi thanked airline for providing assistance to the camp which was accommodating 7,793 IDPs.

“For somebody to come all the way from Lagos to come and see the plights of the IDPs, it is commendable, and we thank Allah and the management,’’ Idi said.

He noted that the needs of the displaced persons were numerous and appealed to other corporate organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations to support them.

May 9, 2017
‘Chibok girls release: PDP insensitive, exhibits disdain for human life’

The Federal Government says the incautious statement by a faction of PDP criticizing the process leading to the release of the 82 Chibok girls further exhibits the party’s disdain for human life.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed described the statement as “indecent, inhuman and ill-timed”.

The minister, in the release signed by his Special Adviser, Mr Segun Adeyemi, said it was insensitive for any individual or organization to spoil the joy that heralded the release of the girls because of politics.

“It is clear that the kind of disdain for human life which the PDP exhibited in its incautious statement is the same reason the poor girls were kidnapped in the first instance.

“It is also this attitude the then PDP-controlled Federal Government took that seemed an eternity before even acknowledging the abduction, thus losing critical time for their rescue.

He noted that from the statement, it was clear that the PDP, whose incompetence and the cluelessness precipitated the Chibok girls crisis was not wishing and praying for it to end with the safe return of the abducted girls.

The minister recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had stated that the defeat of Boko Haram would not be complete without the rescue of the Chibok girls.

“If that includes swapping some Boko Haram elements for the girls, so what? Will the PDP rather have the girls stay in perpetual captivity, just to prove a ludicrous point?

“Didn’t superpower United States engage in negotiations with the Taliban that led to the exchange of five Taliban fighters for US Army Sgt Bowe Bergdahl in 2014?

“Didn’t Israel release 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit in 2011?

“A lot of factors come into play when a nation has to decide whether or not to engage in prisoner/hostage swap.

“None, however, trounces the sanctity attached to human life and the consideration for the pains of the loved ones of those involved,” he said.

The minister stressed that since the PDP failed to rescue even one of the Chibok girls, the party should hold its peace while the administration continued to seek the release of all the abducted girls, using every means at its disposal.

He reassured that the administration would continue to work assiduously to end all Boko Haram hostilities.

May 8, 2017