The Federal Government has said it did not swap Boko Haram prisoners in its custody to secure the release of 21 Chibok girls.
Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the disclosure at a World Press Conference to journalists.
He said, “Gentlemen of the press, good afternoon. We have called this press
conference at a very short notice to brief you on the latest development in the saga of the abducted Chibok Girls.
conference at a very short notice to brief you on the latest development in the saga of the abducted Chibok Girls.
“We can confirm that 21 of the girls were released, safely,
to us by 5.30 this Thursday morning and they were flown to Kaduna from
the location of their release. This is the most glaring manifestation to
date of the unwavering commitment of Mr. President to secure the safe
release of the girls and reunite them with their families. It is also
a result of the round-the-clock efforts by the Administration to put a
closure to the sad issue of the kidnap of the girls.
to us by 5.30 this Thursday morning and they were flown to Kaduna from
the location of their release. This is the most glaring manifestation to
date of the unwavering commitment of Mr. President to secure the safe
release of the girls and reunite them with their families. It is also
a result of the round-the-clock efforts by the Administration to put a
closure to the sad issue of the kidnap of the girls.
“We expect the released girls to land in Abuja shortly.
Ahead of their arrival, we have assembled a team of medical doctors,
psychologists, social, workers trauma experts, etc to properly examine the girls,
especially because they have been in captivity for so long. They will
also be adequately debriefed. We have the list oft he 21 girls but we
are now contacting their parents as part of the necessary verification
exercise. As soon as that is concluded, we will release the names to the
public.
Ahead of their arrival, we have assembled a team of medical doctors,
psychologists, social, workers trauma experts, etc to properly examine the girls,
especially because they have been in captivity for so long. They will
also be adequately debriefed. We have the list oft he 21 girls but we
are now contacting their parents as part of the necessary verification
exercise. As soon as that is concluded, we will release the names to the
public.
“Gentlemen, as we have always said, we have been working on
the safe release of the girls and following all the leads available. In
this instance, the moment we had a credible lead, Mr President gave the
green-light to the DSS to pursue it. We can confirm that the DSS
pursued the lead in collaboration with a friendly European country and a
renowned international humanitarian organization. The DSS was supported
by the military.
the safe release of the girls and following all the leads available. In
this instance, the moment we had a credible lead, Mr President gave the
green-light to the DSS to pursue it. We can confirm that the DSS
pursued the lead in collaboration with a friendly European country and a
renowned international humanitarian organization. The DSS was supported
by the military.
“As soon as the necessary confidence was built on both
sides, the parties agreed on the date and the location of the release of
the 21 girls. Please note that this is not a swap. It is a release, the
product of painstaking negotiations and trust on both sides.
sides, the parties agreed on the date and the location of the release of
the 21 girls. Please note that this is not a swap. It is a release, the
product of painstaking negotiations and trust on both sides.
“We see this as a credible first step in the eventual
release of all the Chibok Girls in captivity. It is also a major step in
confidence-building between us as a government and the Boko Haram
leadership on the issue of the Chibok Girls.
release of all the Chibok Girls in captivity. It is also a major step in
confidence-building between us as a government and the Boko Haram
leadership on the issue of the Chibok Girls.
“We want to thank all Nigerians for their support and for
never losing confidence in the ability of Mr. President to secure the
safe release of our Chibok Girls,” he concluded.
never losing confidence in the ability of Mr. President to secure the
safe release of our Chibok Girls,” he concluded.