FG may swap Boko Haram’s wives, kids for abducted girls

As part of the ongoing backdoor talks with Boko Haram, the Federal Government may be disposed to the release of people described as soft detainees of the sect to secure freedom for the more than 200 school girls abducted by the group last month. The soft detainees are the wives and children of Boko Haram members in various facilities nationwide. The government is not keen on outright swap of the girls with Boko Haram members in detention, The Nation gathered yeterday. The Presidential Fact-Finding Committee on the girls’ abduction yesterday in Maiduguri met with leaders of the Chibok community. A top source said last night that the talks are progressing well with feedback from both sides. “The government may consider the release of only soft detainees in line with international rules of engagement,” said the source. It added that the soft detainees are wives and children of Boko Haram members detained by the Federal
Government. “They are vulnerable people for whom the rules of engagement allow some human rights waivers,” the source added. It described the gesture as a continuation of a similar approval by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013. Responding to a question, the source added: “It is still at the level of contemplation. But the talks are ongoing. “Certainly, there will be no outright swapping of the girls with Boko Haram members who are in detention.” The source said the government was looking at this option because most Nigerians want the girls back alive.” Asked about the stage of the rescue operation for the girls, the source added: “Up till now, it is still at the level of intelligence gathering, to locate where they are kept. “Once the area or camp is located, it will not take less than six hours to liberate the girls. “We have got intelligence report that most of these girls are alive but we are trying our best to locate the exact spot of the camp or camps where they are held hostage.” Meanwhile, the Fact-Finding Committee yesterday met with leaders of Chibok Community in Maiduguri. Spokesperson for the Committee, Kingsley Osadolor, said the panel “ had made substantial progress in its assignment,” and received the cooperation of the various stakeholders it had interacted with. “However, the work of the committee is not finished. The Committee will visit Chibok, and you will be informed accordingly.” Osadolor also gave insight into the activities of the committee since Monday. The statement added: “Military Commanders, the state Commissioner of Police, state Director of the Department of State Services, Commanders of Customs, Immigration, and Prisons formations, as well as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have taken turns to brief the Presidential Fact-finding Committee on the Chibok abduction. “The meetings took place in Maiduguri, Borno State, where the Committee is carrying on with its assignment. The first round of interactions took place till late on Monday night, while the second session continued on Tuesday. “Others who have interfaced with the Committee are principal officers of Government Secondary School, Chibok, where the mass abduction took place, and the Chairman of Chibok Local Government.” The statement quoted the Chairman of the Committee, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (rtd) as saying: “We are pleased with the candour of the officers. In the light of what we have heard and ascertained from the intensive engagement so far, I am confident that the Committee will discharge its mandate.” “Part of the Committee’s task is to articulate a framework for a multi-stakeholder action for the rescue of the missing girls, as well as mobilise the surrounding communities and the general public on citizen support for a rescue strategy and operation. “The Commanders, who interacted with the Fact-finding Committee, have been in the theatre of conflict with the insurgents, including the material time of the abduction of the schoolgirls.”[The Nation]