Business of swapping terrorists for Chibok girls is not for military- CDS
Tue Aug 16, 2016 09:47:am National
3.6K By Buchi Obichie
Against the backdrop of a new demand made by Islamist terrorist sect, Boko Haram, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin, has said that the business of swapping abducted Chibok schoolgirls for Boko Haram insurgents was not that of the military.
In a new video released on Sunday, the terrorist group had asked the Federal Government to swap its members detained at detention centres across the country for the Chibok girls, who have been kidnapped since April 14, 2014.
They vowed that until this happened, the over 200 girls still in captivity would not be released.
Speaking at a meeting with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, General Olonishakin said the military would continue its onslaught against the terrorists, even as he stated that the decision to swap the girls for the sect members was a political one which was not the business of the military.
"The military decision is that we are going ahead with our operations. The operation is being conducted appropriately," he said.
Olonishakin said the military was still analysing the video released by the sect and would make appropriate comments at the right time.
Also making his remarks at the Villa yesterday, the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Government was in talks with the Boko Haram sect for the release of the girls.
According to the Minister, the Government was careful to ensure it was speaking with the right group as the sect had been factionalised.
"The Government's position is clear, that we are in touch with them. We are just being careful and cautious to ensure that we are talking to the right people, especially with the news that there is a split in the leadership. But what is important is the safety and security of these girls," Mohammed said.
He said the Government is committed to doing everything possible to rescue the girls, and would not relent on efforts to find them.
In a new video released on Sunday, the terrorist group had asked the Federal Government to swap its members detained at detention centres across the country for the Chibok girls, who have been kidnapped since April 14, 2014.
They vowed that until this happened, the over 200 girls still in captivity would not be released.
Speaking at a meeting with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, General Olonishakin said the military would continue its onslaught against the terrorists, even as he stated that the decision to swap the girls for the sect members was a political one which was not the business of the military.
"The military decision is that we are going ahead with our operations. The operation is being conducted appropriately," he said.
Olonishakin said the military was still analysing the video released by the sect and would make appropriate comments at the right time.
Also making his remarks at the Villa yesterday, the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Government was in talks with the Boko Haram sect for the release of the girls.
According to the Minister, the Government was careful to ensure it was speaking with the right group as the sect had been factionalised.
"The Government's position is clear, that we are in touch with them. We are just being careful and cautious to ensure that we are talking to the right people, especially with the news that there is a split in the leadership. But what is important is the safety and security of these girls," Mohammed said.
He said the Government is committed to doing everything possible to rescue the girls, and would not relent on efforts to find them.
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