RELEASE OF CHIBOK 21: Military angry over deal with Boko Haram

The release of 21 of the 218 abducted Chibok girls has continued to generate controversies, as indications have emerged that all may not be well within the rank and file of the military, especially the ground troops that are involved in the war against the violent extremist group, Boko Haram.

Reports say that they are not happy with the alleged release of five Boko Haram commanders that were allegedly swapped to secure the release of the girls.

Though the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had at a press conference on Thursday, said the Federal Government did not swap detained Boko Haram members for the release of the girls or made any payments, reports from Borno State, the epicentre of the war against the insurgents, suggests that there was a prisoner swap coordinated by the International Committee for the Red Cross, ICRC and the Swiss Government.

Read also: Controversy trails release of 21 Chibok girls

According to the report, the Boko Haram commanders were brought by an Airforce helicopter to Banki in Borno State close to the Cameroonian border while the released girls were brought to the same location by an ICRC vehicle to the waiting helicopter that took them to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Sources in the military indicated that though the security personnel welcome the release of the girls, swapping Boko Haram commanders for them was least expected.

According to sources, those on the ground are worried that the release of the Boko Haram commanders may substantially change the narratives of the war against terrorism in the country, a war the Nigerian military has substantially won.

The troops on ground are said to be more peeved because those that were released were said to have contributed in the killing of both civilians and security operatives in the past.

Speaking on the development, a senior military offficer said only top figures were in the know of the deal because it was not meant for public consumption, adding the negotiation for the release of the girls was purely the responsibility of the nation’s political leadership.

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews…

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