Northern Elders Meet With Jonathan Over Abducted School Girls

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Some Northern leaders, including Borno elders and two other groups reportedly met with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja to try and find a solution over the missing school girls who are yet to be released.

The Northern elders are opposed to the use of force in securing the girls freedom as it was learnt that it may further provoke Boko Haram and they will end up killing the girls who they abducted from a government girls secondary school in Chibok, Borno about three weeks ago.

There are indications that the three groups, which include Northern elders/leaders; some insurgents in detention; and influential Islamic clerics in the North are trying to reach out to Boko Haram but there is no response yet.

A highly placed source who pleaded anonymity said these three groups who are opposed to the use of force are pushing for either monetary bargain with Boko Haram or release of some detained insurgents in exchange for some of the abducted girls, but a major challenge is that ransom to insurgents is a crime in our anti-terrorism law.

The source said, “the statement by Boko Haram leader Shekau was a coded message that he will not kill these girls. So, he has left a window or possibility for negotiation or bargain. If the options are acceptable to the government, these groups might meet with a team from the insurgents at a neutral ground to negotiate.

“Everyone is saying that the insurgents will agree to hold talks with the three groups on the fate of the abducted girls.”

Jonathan also met with with a delegation of Northeast Forum for Unity and Development, led by former Finance Minister Adamu Ciroma at the Presidential Villa yesterday though there was no official statement on the meeting which lasted for about an hour.

Among the delegates were former Minister of Education, Prof. Jibril Aminu, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babagana Kingibe, Senator Abdul Ningi, Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil and Hon. Mohammed Kumalia.

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