There are indications that the Federal Government is changing its position on the prisoner swap proposed by the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, through a video released on Monday, May 12, 2014.
The Islamist extremist group leader said the 276 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok kidnapped by their group on April 14, 2014 will be released if the Federal Government release members of their terror group held in custody for over 4 years.
Asked if the government would reject the suggestion mentioned by Shekau in a new video that the girls may be released once Nigeria frees all militant prisoners, Interior Minister Abba Moro told AFP: “Of course.”
“The issue in question is not about Boko Haram… giving conditions,” he said.
In new developments, the special duties minister, Tanimu Turaki, was quoted Tuesday, May 14, 2014 by the BBC as saying the government was set for negotiations in bringing the crisis to an end and that “an issue of this nature can be resolved outside of violence”.
But Mr. Turaki urged the Islamist group to send in representatives for talks with the government if it was sincere.
Mr. Turaki is the head of a panel set up by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 to explore ways of negotiating with Boko Haram.
Mike Omeri, director general of the National Orientation Agency on Monday also said all options remained open for the government in the effort to rescue the girls.
