Why release of remaining Chibok girls is stalled - Osinbajo

dimeji akinloye

April 13, 2017 8:08 AM

Osinbajo said one of the major challenges that is stalling their rescue is the existence of two factions in the Boko Haram leadership.

President Buhari receives Rescued Chibok Girl Amina Ali and Family in State House on 19th May 2016

The Vice President,

"There is a lot of negotiation going on," he said.

He said the government has "gone quite far" with negotiations to free more girls.

He said one of the major challenges that is stalling their rescue is the existence of two factions in the Boko Haram leadership.

Speaking to journalists and activists on Tuesday, April 11, at the state house in Abuja, the Vice-President disclosed that the each faction is holding on to some of the girls.

One of the factions is led by Abubakar Shekau, the erstwhile leader of the group, while a breakaway faction is led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who is believed to be the son of the late founder of the sect, Mohammed Yusuf.

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Boko Haram had seized 276 pupils from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok on the night of April 14, 2014.

About 57 of the girls managed to escape shortly after their abduction.

Last year, negotiations between the Federal Government and Boko Haram had led to the release of 21 of the girls while another three were freed by soldiers.

dimeji akinloye