FG Takes A Bold Step In The Swop Of Chibok Girls
Many quarters seem to have the know-how for a successful FG/B'Haram Girls swop. Experts are beginning to rain advise on Buhari, spelling out how FG could go about the swop so as to get the desired result.
Meanwhile, There are strong indications that the Federal Government has begun moves to exchange the Chibok girls with some Boko Haram detainees.
Report reveals that besides the military, the police, the Nigeria Prison Service, the office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Justice would be involved in the swop talks.
Be that as it may, the government are undecided on the militants that would be released in exchange for the Chibok girls, detainees, who had not been tried could be the foremost beneficiaries of the swop deal.
There are pointers to fact that detainees, who had undergone the “de-radicalisation” programme of the government, would be considered under the arrangement and that the government had started addressing problems that could hamper the swop talks following the balkanization of the sect early this month.
A top government official said, “I can assure you that the government is identifying genuine members of the sect it is negotiating with. We won’t repeat the mistake the immediate past government made by talking with those who will not produce the girls.
“Government is not opposed to swopping. Other countries, including Israel, have done it. In fact, security agencies are conducting fresh profiling of the sect members that are being detained. That is the first move. If there are sect members that have not been tried, they will be the first set to be considered under the arrangement.”
A security expert, John Enweliku, said the Federal Government should first verify whether Boko Haram was serious about the swop deal.
He said if the group was serious about it, the government could then go ahead in the deal.
Enweliku, however, cautioned the Federal Government against negotiating with the wrong party.
He said, “The authenticity of the negotiation claim is the issue here. The other time when the Federal Government tried toeing the path of negotiation with the militants, they ended up meeting with the wrong party.
“Swopping the Boko Haram members for the Chibok girls is a welcome development. It happens even in advanced countries, but we should ensure we negotiate with the right people this time around.
“The girls’ lives are important, but the Federal Government should tread cautiously. Their abduction has brought pain to their families and to the country as a whole.
“And I am sure that with the present leadership of our various security agencies, they are capable of containing the activities of the militants when released.”
In the same light, a counter-terrorism expert based in the United States, Sunday Ogunlana, disclosed that there is nothing wrong for the Federal Government to swop the Chibok girls for Boko Haram detainees. But he however, cautioned the government against negotiating from the position of weakness.
Stating that, “If Boko Haram are sincere that they want to release the girls, I don’t see anything bad in the negotiation, but it should be done with caution. And the Federal Government also must be transparent about it. They have to tell us who is setting the rules of the negotiation? How many Boko Haram members are they swopping for the Chibok girls? Are we negotiating from a position of strength or weakness?
“If the girls are united with their families again, it is something good and no amount of sacrifice is too much to rescue them. Look at what happened in the United States few days ago, when the US sent $400m in cash to Iran to free four American hostages held in Iran. These countries will tell you they don’t negotiate with terrorists, but that they dialogue.
“We can try that as well. We have used force before and we are still using it, but it has not been working. So if truly the Chibok girls exist and they are still being held, the Federal Government should verify and negotiate with the right group, and this time around, from the position of strength.”
On the flip side, Patrick Agbam another security consultant vented that the Federal Government should look for a different way to rescue the Chibok girls while stating that releasing Boko Haram members to the public again could create more security problems for the country in the future.
“Everybody is eager to see the Chibok girls released to their families. Their lives are in danger now and they need to be rescued. It is very easy to say they should swop, but how are we sure that the Boko Haram members released will not create another problem in the future? Are we sure they will keep to their end of the deal? We should be cautious.
“We want to see the girls back, but I think the government should look for a new way to rescue the girls. When you release criminals, they will come back to haunt you.” he added.
