A civil rights campaigner, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to sustain its new negotiating formula and secure freedom for Chibok girls still in insurgents’ captivity.
Nwagwu, who is Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform (PER), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), made the call in an in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Recall that no fewer than 200 girls were abducted from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014.
A few of the girls were reported to have, at different times, escaped from their captors. But, in October 2016, 21 of the girls were released by the insurgents after some talks with government agents.
On Saturday, another set of 82 girls regained freedom from the group after negotiation which involved the swap of five insurgents held by the government, for the girls.
The method had since elicited mixed reactions, with some lauding the strategy while some condemned it.
Nwagwu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for adopting swap negotiation to secure the release of the girls, saying it was a right approach.
He advised that when dealing with terrorists, the doors of negotiation should not be totally closed.
“I am overjoyed that the girls were released; it is also exciting that the president adopted negotiation method for their release.
“I also congratulate those who worked in the background to make it happen by ensuring that the negotiation was not stalled.
“The carrot and stick method used with Boko Haram is not out of place at all, because when dealing with terrorists, it is not good to shut the door on negotiations.
“For those who doubted whether the Chibok girls’ abduction was true, it is rather unfortunate because when dealing with terrorists anything is possible,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Frank Tietie, Executive Director, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), said the negotiation for the release of the girls was a welcomed development.
Tietie said this was something that should have been done a long time ago, adding that it was a good approach that was well handled.
“The president has shown that he values the lives of the girls above the pride of military victory by negotiating.
“It is a welcomed development and highly commendable that the president finally showed concern to exchange Boko Haran prisoners for the girls, though it took some time.
“However, I am glad that the girls are here and I urge that negotiation should be sustained for the release of the rest,’’ he said.
The post ‘Chibok Girls: Sustain negotiation to free remaining girls’ appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.
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