An agreement between Nigerian officials and Boko Haram reportedly reached to
secure a ceasefire and the return of 219 schoolgirls missing for more than
six months
More than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Nigeria could be released
after a ceasefire was agreed with the Islamist group, the country's
government has claimed.
Nigeria's military and an aid to President Goodluck Jonathan reached an
agreement with Boko Haram leaders to introduce a ceasefire, and reportedly
guaranteed the return of the 219 girls.
They were taken captive in April, sparking international condemnation and a
global campaign on social media entitled "Bring Back Our Girls" to
lobby for their return.
Air Marshal Alex Badeh, Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, said: "A
ceasefire agreement has been concluded between the Federal Government of
Nigeria and the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram)."
"I have accordingly directed the service chiefs to ensure immediate
compliance with this development in the field."
Separately, Hassan Tukur, a presidential aid, told AFP an agreement to release the schoolgirls and end hostilities had been reached following two meetings with the militants.
The negotiations took place in neighbouring Chad, mediated by that country's President Idriss Deby, he said.
"Boko Haram issued the ceasefire as a result of the discussions we have been having with them," said Mr Tukur.
"They have agreed to release the Chibok girls," he continued, referring the town in north-east Nigeria from which girls had been taken.
There was, however, doubt cast over the validity of the claims after the government issued a statement that appeared to undermine Mr Tukur's claims that an agreeement had already been reached.
"We can confirm that there have been contacts between the government and representatives of Boko Haram," the National Information Centre statement said.
"The discussions are essentially in relation to the general insecurity in the North East and also the need to rescue all captives of the terrorists, including the students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok.
"From the discussions, they indicated their desire for and willingness to discuss and resolve all associated issues.
"They also assured that the school girls and all other people in their captivity are all alive and well."
Experts also questioned the credibility of the man who reportedly acted as Boko Haram's envoy in the Chad negotiations.
"I have never heard of such a man and if Boko Haram wanted to declare a ceasefire it would come from the group's leader Abubakar Shekau," said Shehu Sani, a Boko Haram expert who has negotiated with the group before on behalf of the government.
Doubt also arose from the fact that President Jonathan is expected to declare his re-election bid in coming days and positive news about the hostages could give him a political boost.
The announcement came just days after protesters marched in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, to mark the six-month anniversary of the girl's abduction.
The group walked to President Goodluck Jonathan's official residence to maintain pressure on the government to bring the missing teenagers home.
The Telegraph revealed last month that the International Committee of the Red Cross had become involved in a secret prisoner swap deal that would ensure their return.
Officials from the Geneva-based organisation sat in on talks between the Nigerian government and a senior Boko Haram leader that was being held in one of the country's maximum security prisons.
The Red Cross officials also visited a number of other jails, identifying a list of 16 senior commanders that Boko Haram wants freed in exchange for the 219 hostages kidnapped from the north-east town of Chibok.
The ICRC's role in the talks represented the first official confirmation that the Nigerian government was actively engaged in talks with Boko Haram.
Publicly, Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan, has previously maintained that the government would never agree to any kind of negotiations.
Separately, Hassan Tukur, a presidential aid, told AFP an agreement to release the schoolgirls and end hostilities had been reached following two meetings with the militants.
The negotiations took place in neighbouring Chad, mediated by that country's President Idriss Deby, he said.
"Boko Haram issued the ceasefire as a result of the discussions we have been having with them," said Mr Tukur.
"They have agreed to release the Chibok girls," he continued, referring the town in north-east Nigeria from which girls had been taken.
There was, however, doubt cast over the validity of the claims after the government issued a statement that appeared to undermine Mr Tukur's claims that an agreeement had already been reached.
"We can confirm that there have been contacts between the government and representatives of Boko Haram," the National Information Centre statement said.
"The discussions are essentially in relation to the general insecurity in the North East and also the need to rescue all captives of the terrorists, including the students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok.
"From the discussions, they indicated their desire for and willingness to discuss and resolve all associated issues.
"They also assured that the school girls and all other people in their captivity are all alive and well."
Experts also questioned the credibility of the man who reportedly acted as Boko Haram's envoy in the Chad negotiations.
"I have never heard of such a man and if Boko Haram wanted to declare a ceasefire it would come from the group's leader Abubakar Shekau," said Shehu Sani, a Boko Haram expert who has negotiated with the group before on behalf of the government.
Doubt also arose from the fact that President Jonathan is expected to declare his re-election bid in coming days and positive news about the hostages could give him a political boost.
The announcement came just days after protesters marched in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, to mark the six-month anniversary of the girl's abduction.
The group walked to President Goodluck Jonathan's official residence to maintain pressure on the government to bring the missing teenagers home.
The Telegraph revealed last month that the International Committee of the Red Cross had become involved in a secret prisoner swap deal that would ensure their return.
Officials from the Geneva-based organisation sat in on talks between the Nigerian government and a senior Boko Haram leader that was being held in one of the country's maximum security prisons.
The Red Cross officials also visited a number of other jails, identifying a list of 16 senior commanders that Boko Haram wants freed in exchange for the 219 hostages kidnapped from the north-east town of Chibok.
The ICRC's role in the talks represented the first official confirmation that the Nigerian government was actively engaged in talks with Boko Haram.
Publicly, Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan, has previously maintained that the government would never agree to any kind of negotiations.
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