82 Chibok Girls Secured In Exchange Of Boko Haram Prisoners

Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), said that security agencies secured the release of 82 Chibok girls in exchange for five persons believed to be Boko Haram

prisoners. Speaking with Vanguard, Senator  Sani, who noted that no price was too high for the release of the girls, said “the swap commanders are five, and not two as reported.’’

“The Chibok girls release will partially clear the dark cloud of moral guilt that hangs over the sky of our country. 

The negotiators never gave up, the negotiators will continue for the next set after the one secured are made public. “It is credible that 82 girls have been released; all in good condition with the exception of one with fracture on the hand and one with crutches.”

Military sources confirmed the use of money and release of detained Boko Haram commanders  as bargaining chips and disclosed that the insurgents who had been reluctant in the negotiation with the Federal Government team had to give in, with support of the International Red Cross on seeing that  troops were closing in on their remaining hideouts inside Sambisa Forest.

Recalling the destruction of ‘Camp Zairo’ which was the former control base of the group, the source said, the mop-up operation being intensified on remaining hideouts in the vast forest in ‘Operation Deep Punch’, has put the terrorists group in great disadvantage.

“Sensing that time was almost up on them and coupled with the fact that they have lost almost all their armoury, logistics holding and most supply routes for food and other necessities, the remnants of the Commanders decided to cash in on the negotiation not only to have their commanders released but also to make brisk money with which they feel they can either re-launch themselves or move away into other climes. 

When told that a faction of the terrorist group is believed to have released the Chibok girls, the source said it was the Shekau faction, noting that the Boko Haram leader’s faction had been seriously degraded and were looking for any means to remain relevant.

Asked if the commanders exchanged for the girls were released from detention centres in Maimalari cantonment, Makurdi or elsewhere, the source said some of them were moved from detention centres in the FCT and Borno State and that they were flown under cover by military aircraft to Banki town and handed over to the terrorist group in exchange for the girls.