It would be recalled that less than two weeks ago it was reported that the insurgents had agreed to release only 30 female students abducted in April in exchange for 18 key group members. The decision was allegedly made after the Nigerian authorities had held secret talks with one of Boko Haram seniors identified as Umar.
This Saturday it was gathered that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Nigerian government were holding long-time negotiations on the issue.
According to the Nation, the agreement on 219 girls release was reached.
It has been reported that the two parties asked their representatives to go back to their leaders to discuss the new conditions.
At the meeting said to be facilitated by the President, Civil Rights Congress (CRC), Comrade Shehu Sani, it was allegedly claimed that if the girls were tried to be released by force, it might lead to fatalities.
One of those who attended the session said:
“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 source also said that the Nigerian authorities promised to release the 18 leaders as soon as all the girls were let go.
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