•’We’ve had talks with sect thrice’
The Federal Government yesterday gave a detailed account of efforts made by the Buhari administration since its inception to have the over 200 Chibok girls released from the Boko Haram captivity.
These included three negotiations with the terror sect between July and December 2015 all of which were frustrated by the sect.
The girls were abducted in April 2014 when Boko Haram fighters stormed the school and carried the girls into captivity.
Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed, speaking at a press conference in Abuja against the backdrop of recent criticism of alleged government inaction by the #BringBackOurGirls group, said government had demonstrated in practical terms its determination to have the girls freed only to run into a dead end at every point.
He said thrice did government negotiate with the sect on how to swap the abducted Chibok girls for some commanders of the insurgents and thrice was it frustrated.
He said the talks broke down because of cracks within Boko Haram and some difficult demands made by the sect.
The demands included the release of their fighters arrested by law enforcement agencies, especially those involved in major terrorist acts and experts in the manufacture of locally assembled explosives.
But the minister said government has not foreclosed negotiation because of its desire to secure the release of the girls.
Going down the memory lane, Mohammed said that the Jonathan administration, during whose tenure the girls were kidnapped, failed to save them because of competing interests and unnecessary rivalries before the May 29, 2015 handover to Buhari.
He said that following leads from some international bodies and countries, relevant security agencies were able to strike a chord which opened the way for talks between the Buhari administration and Boko Haram.
He was, however, silent on the leaders of Boko Haram who the Federal Government discussed with in order “not to jeopardize negotiation.”
The efforts were coordinated by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) in conjunction with other intelligence agencies, he said.
His words: “Precisely on July 17, 2015, the DSS opened the negotiation process with the group holding the Chibok girls. However, in return for the release of some of these girls, the group also made some demands.
“These included the release of some of their fighters arrested, including some involved in major terrorist actions, resulting in several fatalities, and others who were experts in manufacture of locally assembled explosives.
“This was difficult to accept, but appropriate security agencies had to again inform Mr. President of these demands, and its viewed implications. Again, Mr. President gave his assent, believing that the overall release of these girls remains paramount and sacrosanct.
“Meanwhile, following the above development, government and the security agencies had sufficient leverage to work out the modalities of the swap.
“These included creating the safe haven, or necessary place of swap and working out the logistic details. Based on this, the DSS availed other critical sister agencies of this new situation. “Immediately, the Nigerian Army and the Air Force sent some specialists to commence a detailed arrangement for the swap. This was during the last week of July 2015 and 1st week of August 2015.
“The officers representing the various agencies worked out the logistic details, such as the number of persons to be swapped i.e. number of girls and detainees to be exchanged, the vehicles and aircraft, as well as safeguards, i.e. safety of the persons, including the location of the swap.
“When it was finally agreed by all parties, Mr. President was again informed that the preparations were concluded, and the first step for the swap would commence on August 1, 2015. Mr. President robustly gave his approval.
“On August 4, 2015, the persons who were to be part of the swap arrangements and all others involved in the operation were transported to Maiduguri, Borno State. This team, with the lead facilitator, continued the contact with the group holding the Chibok girls.
“The service was able to further prove to the group its sincerity, as it established communication contact between it and its detained members. All things were in place for the swap which was mutually agreed. Expectations were high.
“Unfortunately, after more than two weeks of negotiation and bargains, the group, just at the dying moments, issued new set of demands, never bargained for or discussed by the group before the movement to Maiduguri. All this while, the security agencies waited patiently. This development stalled what would have been the first release process of the Chibok girls.
“It may be important to note that in spite of this setback, the government and the security agencies have not relented in the bid to ensure that the Chibok girls are released safely.
“By the month of November, precisely November 13, 2015, another fresh negotiation process with the group was initiated. This time, there was the need to discuss a fresh component in other to avoid issues that had stalled the former arrangement.
“There were, however, some problems that many may not discern, but should be expected in this kind of situation.
“Some critical persons within the group, who played such vital role in August, 2015, were discovered to be dead during combat action or as a result of the emerging rift amongst members of the group then. These two factors delayed the process. In spite of these, negotiation continued on new modalities.
“By November 30, 2015, it was becoming glaring that the division amongst the group was more profound. This affected the swap process.
“By December 10, 2015, another negotiation process was in place, but this failed to achieve results because of the varying demands by the group.”
Mohammed said the Federal Government has not given up on the release of the girls.
He added: “The security agencies since the beginning of 2016 have not only remained committed, but have also taken the lead to resolve the Chibok girls’ issue.
“In spite of the current division amongst members of the terrorist group, which has seriously affected efforts to release the girls, renewed efforts have commenced using our trusted assets and facilitators. However, this job requires diligence and ability to deal with a group that can easily change its demands without notice.
“Officers and men have sacrificed their time and energy, and some have already paid the supreme price since the abduction of the Chibok girls, fighting for the safe release of the girls.
“Many friendly countries and organizations have equally been very forthcoming in providing their human and technological resources to assist in the process. They are still doing so. We cannot as a nation ignore these sacrifices.
“The government and its security agencies remain committed to ensuring that the Chibok girls are safely released in fulfilment of the presidential mandate.”
The minister appealed to the parents of the Chibok girls and Nigerians to have trust in the government on its ability to secure their release.
He added: “Government appreciates the resilience of Nigerians in the fight against insurgency and terrorism and will continue to call on fellow Nigerians to hold that much is ahead and therefore support Mr. president’s resolve on this matter.”
He had some words for the parents and relatives of the Chibok girls too.
He said: “We are with you; we feel your pains and shall not relent until we succeed in bringing home our girls and every other citizen abducted by the group. It is important to appeal to all those who have shown concern in resolving this matter to continue to trust the efforts of government to deal with the situation.”
The minister, however, explained why and how past efforts to free the Chibok girls failed.
He said:” Members of the public may recall that when the present administration came on board, Mr. President pledged to Nigerians to ensure the security of lives and property of every Nigerian, provide employment for the nation’s teeming youths and fight corruption.
“Since that time, the security agencies have been saddled with the responsibility of dealing with the threat of terrorism which has ravaged most parts of the Northern region.
“You will also recall that from the physical destruction of communities and strategic institutions, the terrorist elements also engaged in abduction of women and children in the affected parts. Most painful was the abduction of the school girls in Chibok at the twilight of the past administration in 2014.
“When Mr. President assumed leadership of this country, he immediately directed security agencies to urgently fashion out strategies to trace, locate and ensure the safe and successful release of the Chibok girls. This was the mandate given to security agencies.
“Gentlemen, it was consequent upon this directive that the security agencies, comprising of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Navy, Police and the DSS, commenced action in June 2015.
“To this effect also, the DSS established a special tactical unit to review the gamut of actions so far carried out to secure the release of the Chibok girls, establish why the action has recorded no success as it were and to present a roadmap for possible success.
“ In this process, the DSS and the other security agencies observed the following:
- Many persons or groups posing as negotiators actually had no veritable intelligence or the reach to facilitate the release of the Chibok girls;
- The efforts were clouded by persons with very partisan interests and whose main objective was solely to score cheap political points. It was obvious their approach had no relevance to the release of the girls;
- Some informants or persons volunteering to be negotiators or facilitators saw and treated the girls’ fate and indeed the situation as a conduit to enrich themselves, thus making the whole thing a pecuniary venture; and
- As a result of the conflicting and partisan interests, issues were muddled up to the extent that reasonable and fruitful leads either failed or simply came too late for any useful action.
“It was, therefore, found that in the midst of these strong competing interests and unnecessary rivalries, nothing was achieved before the 2015 hand-over date. It was based on these that the security agencies set out to work for the release of the girls.
“First, there was the need to identify those with relevant intelligence on the groups holding the girls, as well as establish sources of contact in touch with the group.
“This exercise was found not to be an easy task. On those holding the Chibok girls, there was also a high level of mistrust, as they too found many approaches or groups claiming to be in touch with them as false or unreliable.
“In this new bid, many offers ranging from credible, not credible to outright off-mark information came to the government. Some international bodies and countries also provided leads. It was out of this that relevant security agencies were able to strike a chord.
“By the third week of July 2015, a contact group was in touch with credible assets who had the reach and who attested to the fact that some of the Chibok girls were alive. Mr. President was then briefed of these assets and intelligence and he gave his assent for further negotiations on the Chibok girls.”
