The Federal Government, on Friday,
released details on why the directive given to security agencies to
urgently fashion out strategies to trace, locate and ensure the safe and
successful release of the abducted Chibok girls was yet to yield
positive fruits.
It confirmed that many friendly countries and organizations have
been very forthcoming in providing human and technological resources to
assist in the process of effecting their release.
The girls who were abducted from their school in 2014 remained with
their captors, even as global agitation continued to mount for the safe
release.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated, however,
that the security agencies, comprising of the Nigerian Army, Air Force,
Navy, Police and the DSS, commenced action to ensure the presidential
directive was carried out in June 2015.
To this effect, he noted that the DSS established a special
tactical unit to review the gamut of actions so far carried out to
secure the release of the Chibok girls, establish why the action has
recorded no success as it were and to present a roadmap for possible
success.
He stated that in the process, the DSS and the other security
agencies observed that many persons or groups posing as negotiators
actually had no veritable intelligence nor the reach to facilitate the
release of the Chibok girls;
According to him, the agencies noted that the efforts were clouded
by persons with very partisan interests and whose main objective was
solely to score cheap political points.
“It was obvious their approach had no relevance to the release of the girls,” he said.
The minister also hinted that the security agencies observed that
some informants or persons volunteering to be negotiators or
facilitators saw and treated the girls’ fate and indeed the situation
as a conduit to enrich themselves, thus making the whole thing a
pecuniary venture.
Mohammed said that as a result of the conflicting and partisan
interests, issues were muddled up to the extent that reasonable and
fruitful leads either failed or simply came too late for any useful
action.
Providing further information, the minister stated that it was
found that in the midst of the strong competing interests and
unnecessary rivalries, nothing was achieved before the 2015 handover
date and that it was based on these that the security agencies set out
to work for the release of the girls.
He said, “First, there was the need to identify those with relevant
intelligence on the groups holding the girls, as well as establish
sources of contact in touch with the group. This exercise was found not
to be an easy task.
“On those holding the Chibok girls, there was also a high level of
mistrust, as they too found many approaches or groups claiming to be in
touch with them as false or unreliable.
“In this new bid, many offers ranging from credible, not credible
to outright off-mark information came to the Government. Some
international bodies and countries also provided leads.
“It was out of this that relevant security agencies were able to
strike a chord. By the third week of July 2015, a contact group was in
touch with credible assets who had the reach, and who attested to the
fact that some of the Chibok girls were alive. Mr. President was then
briefed of these assets and intelligence and he gave his assent for
further negotiations on the Chibok girls.
“Precisely on 17th July, 2015, the DSS opened negotiations process with the group holding the Chibok girls.
“However, in return for the release of some of these girls, the
group also made some demands. These included the release of some of
their fighters arrested including some involved in major terrorist
actions, resulting in several fatalities, and others who were experts in
manufacture of locally assembled explosives.
“This was difficult to accept, but appropriate security agencies
had to again inform Mr. President of these demands, and its viewed
implications. Again Mr. President gave his assent believing that the
overall release of these girls remains paramount and sacrosanct.
“Meanwhile, following the above development, Government and the
security agencies had sufficient leverage to work out the modalities of
the swap. These included creating the safe haven, or necessary place of
swap and working out the logistic details.
“Based on this, the DSS availed other critical sister agencies of
this new situation. Immediately, the Nigerian Army and the Air Force
sent some specialists to commence a detailed arrangement for the swap.
“This was during the last week of July 2015 and 1st week of August
2015. The officers representing the various agencies worked out the
logistic details, such as the number of persons to be swapped i.e.
number of girls and detainees to be exchanged, the vehicles and
aircraft, as well as safeguards, i.e. safety of the persons, including
the location of the swap.
“When it was finally agreed by all parties, Mr. President was again
informed that the preparations were concluded, and the first step for
the swap would commence on 1st August, 2015. Mr. President robustly gave
his approval.
“On 4th August, 2015, the persons who were to be part of the swap
arrangements and all others involved in the operation were transported
to Maiduguri, Borno State.
“This team, with the lead facilitator, continued the contact with
the group holding the Chibok girls. The Service was able to further
prove to the group its sincerity, as it established communication
contact between it and its detained members.
“All things were in place for the swap which was mutually agreed. Expectations were high.
“Unfortunately, after more than two weeks of negotiation and
bargains, the group, just at the dying moments, issued new set of
demands, never bargained for or discussed by the group before the
movement to Maiduguri. All this while, the security agencies waited
patiently. This development stalled what would have been the first
release process of the Chibok girls.
“It may be important to note that in spite of this setback, the
government and the security agencies have not relented in the bid to
ensure that the Chibok girls are released safely.
“By the month of November, precisely 13th November, 2015, another
fresh negotiation process with the group was initiated. This time, there
was the need to discuss a fresh component in other to avoid issues that
had stalled the former arrangement.
“There were however some problems that many may not discern, but
should be expected in this kind of situation. Some critical persons
within the group who played such vital role in August, 2015 were
discovered to be dead during combat action or as a result of the
emerging rift amongst members of the group then. These two factors
delayed the process. In spite of these, negotiation continued on new
modalities.
“By 30th November, 2015 it was becoming glaring that the division
amongst the group was more profound. This affected the swap process.
“By 10th December, 2015, another negotiation process was in place,
but this failed to achieve results because of the varying demands by the
group.
“The security agencies since the beginning of 2016 have not only
remained committed but have also taken the lead to resolve the Chibok
girls’ issue.
“In spite of the current division amongst members of the terrorist
group, which has seriously affected efforts to release the girls,
renewed efforts have commenced using our trusted assets and
facilitators.
“However, this job requires diligence and ability to deal with a group that can easily change its demands without notice.
“Officers and men have sacrificed their time and energy, and some
have already paid the supreme price since the abduction of the Chibok
girls, fighting for the safe release of the girls.
“The Government and its security agencies remain committed to
ensuring that the Chibok girls are safely released in fulfillment of the
Presidential mandate.
“Government appreciates the resilience of Nigerians in the fight
against insurgency and terrorism, and will continue to call on fellow
Nigerians to hold that much is ahead and therefore support Mr.
President’s resolve on this matter.
“I cannot end this without appealing to the parents and relatives
of the Chibok girls. We are with you; we feel your pains and shall not
relent until we succeed in bringing home our girls and every other
citizen abducted by the group.
“It is important to appeal to all those who have shown concern in
resolving this matter to continue to trust the efforts of Government to
deal with the situation.”
