‘82 girls were released because of Buhari’s health,’ Source says

monjola sotubo

May 9, 2017 11:06 AM

The source also said that the sect initially wanted money in exchange for the girls and not a prisoner swap.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, seen sitting among the 82 Chibok girls rescued from Boko Haram after a prisoner swap, was elected on as promise to to defeat the insurgents

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The source also told AFP that the sect wanted money in exchange for the girls and not a prisoner swap.

“Boko Haram wanted money not the release of prisoners. For me, the release (of the girls) was more to do with the state of Buhari's health than Boko Haram pressure,” the source said.

The security source, who was involved in the negotiations, also said talks took place over six weeks and involved an almost daily “back and forth” between the two sides.

The girls’ release is also said to have been fast-tracked due to pressure placed on Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau by anti-terrorist operations in the North-East.

“Shekau kept unnecessarily dragging the negotiations to gain more leverage," another source with reliable information on the terrorists, told AFP.

The Boko Haram leader was however forced to accept the deal after a series of air strikes on his men in Balla Village, in Borno state in April.

Shekau was also reported to have been injured in the attack but he later denied it via a video clip.

“The reason why the aerial bombing in Balla forced him to seal the deal was he had lost many commanders and badly needed replacements,” the source added.

Shekau is said to have subsequently instructed his negotiator, a Cameroonian, to agree to the deal.

The 82 girls were released on Saturday, May 6, in exchange for the freedom of between three to five terrorists, according to differing reports.

ALSO READ: 7 Reasons why Boko Haram released 21 schoolgirls

The girls are among more than 200 who were abducted by Boko Haram in April 2014.

21 girls had earlier been released by the sect in October 2016.

monjola sotubo