Negotiations between the Federal Government and representatives of the Boko
Haram Islamic Sect on the release of 219 abducted Chibok girls will continue
today in Chad. This came as government declared that it had no reason to doubt
the sect’s promise to release the girls against the backdrop of alleged breach
of ceasefire agreement by the sect.
Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, last Friday, announced
that Boko Haram had agreed to a ceasefire and instructed all the field commanders
of the troops to observe the ceasefire.
A top military source, said: “It is true that the sect demanded the release
of some of their fighters and the Federal Government is ready to meet some of
their conditions to secure the girls’ freedom. There are high hopes that the
girls will be released; the military is ready to move in and bring out the
girls when this is done. Already, the Federal Government has put machinery in
motion to receive the girls once they are released.”
On the ceasefire agreement reached by the Terrorists and Military, the
source said that so far, the military is maintaining its part of the agreement,
adding that the attacks allegedly carried out by the group in Borno and Adamawa
at the weekend were being investigated to ascertain those responsible.
Following the ceasefire agreement announced by the Chief of Defence Staff,
the Defence headquarters has put Commanders of troops in the epicenter of the
insurgency on standby as there were indications that the over 200 girls
of the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, Borno State, abducted in April
2014, by the terrorists group would be released tomorrow.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, at the
weekend, confirmed that negotiations were going on with Boko Haram “especially
as it concerns release of the Chibok girls and the general insecurity in the
North East and also the need to rescue all other captives of the terrorists.
Already, the terrorists have announced a ceasefire in furtherance of their
desire for peace. In this regard, the government of Nigeria has, in similar
vein, declared ceasefire”.
Gunmen sack Adamawa village
In a related development, gunmen suspected to be insurgents have attacked
Sina Village in Michika Local Government area of Adamawa State.
The attack, according to residents, occurred Saturday night as the
insurgents in their hundreds emerged from the bush and started killing and
burning houses, cars, domestic animals and other property.
A community leader in Michika, Dr. Caleb Filli said the insurgents burnt
down all houses in the village, forcing residents to flee.
According to him, the gunmen in their hundreds descended on the village
shooting indiscriminately and burning houses. He said he could not ascertain
the number of those killed at press time.
Michika and Madagali areas had been under the control of Boko Haram
insurgents since early September, even as efforts by the military to retake them
have proved abortive.
Dr. Filli called on the Federal Government to ensure that the ceasefire
agreement includes the withdrawal of Boko Haram fighters from the areas they
occupy, adding that the ceasefire will not be meaningful unless it paves way
for residents to return to their homes.
He lamented the suffering of thousands of displaced residents living as
refugees in other places, leaving behind their farms and businesses.”
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