sources close to Boko Haram, in an exclusive chat, told them Boko
Haram has dropped demands for its top commanders to be released in
talks with the Nigerian government and is prepared to start releasing
up to half its kidnapped schoolgirls in coming days,
The militant Islamist group, which kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls
a month ago, is willing to conduct a "gradual" release of its hostages
in return for the release of Boko Haram prisoners in Nigerian jails,
it was claimed.
In a significant concession, the group has abandoned demands for its
top commanders to be released,
seemingly aware that this would be politically impossible for the
Nigerian government.
The Telegraph first reported details of Boko Haram's offer of an
imminent prisoner exchange last Tuesday, when sources close to some of
the militants' families said that a senior Islamic cleric from
northern Nigeria would be appointed to mediate on its behalf with the
government.
The cleric has since been joined by a former aide to one of the
group's founders. Neither man has been named, possibly for their own
safety. While the Nigerian government has insisted that it is not
willing to enter prisoner swap negotiations, the source claimed that
dialogue had already been going in secret for several days.
The source said:
"Contrary to the public rejection of any swap deal by the Nigerian
government, there are some on-the-ground talks taking place. An
agreement was reached about two or three days ago in principle to
start releasing some prisoners."He said that among the prisoners that
the group wanted released would be wives and families of Boko Haram
fighters, some of whom have been taken into custody by the Nigerian
government in order to exert emotional pressure on the fighters
themselves. The source added:
The group also has a list of lower-level fighters that it wants
released as well, but they are not high-profile ones,"He said that in
exchange, Boko Haram was willing to start a "gradual" release of
around 100 of the girls – possibly beginning as early as the coming
the week.
"Depending on how the other side responds, the girls will be released
in small groups. They will be left at a certain safe location, and the
authorities will then be told as to where they can pick them up
from."Details of the offer emerged as officials investigated reports
that Boko Haram was responsible for the kidnapping of up to 10 Chinese
workers in neighbouring Cameroon, where the group now also has a
presence
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