“Politics won’t allow us save Chibok girls” – army chief
Nigeria’s military said it would have swapped detained terrorists for kidnapped Chibok girls had it not been for “politics”.
Boko Haram kidnapped over 200 girls in 2014. About 50 of the girls featured in a video the terrorist group released recently. The group said most of the girls have been married off (probably at a price), others have been injured, while some more were killed in military strikes.
The Nigerian military said it was analysing the video to ascertain the terrorist’s claims. It also declared three people wanted in relation to the video.
Boko Haram had in the past demanded its members captured by the Nigerian military be released if the government wanted to see Chibok girls again.
Defence chief Abayomi Olonishakin said the military would have done that were it not a “political decision”.
“The military decision is that we are going ahead with our operations,” Olonishakin said on Monday.
“The operation is being conducted appropriately,” he said.
But he added that the decision to save Chibok girls by releasing Boko Haram members would be a “political” one.
Olonishakin’s comments would mean only President Muhammadu Buhari could order such an exchange, something parents of the abducted girls are urging the government to do.
Amina Ali, one of the abducted girls was found near Sambisa forest in Borno State in May. She was found with a baby and a “repentant” Boko Haram terrorist..
