Borno State governor Kashim Shettima urged the Nigerian
authorities to negotiate with Boko Haram insurgents, saying it will
allow to bring the abducted schoolgirls back, Vanguard reports.
Photo: Kashim Shettima
In the interview with CNN correspondent, the governor said there was no any other option left for the nation and for the Federal Government (FG).
Speaking on the issue, Shettima also lamented that he could reach out for President Goodluck Jonathan on the matter only three weeks after the incident had taken place.
"If I have to talk to the devil to secure the release of the girls, I will do so. President Jonathan did not act on time and did not talk to me over the kidnappings until 19 days after."
Former Education Minister Obiageli Ezekwesili supported the idea of negotiation and regretted that the national tragedy had received political colouring, adding that "we are dealing with a situation where there is a complete breakdown of trust" between the FG and Borno State.
She urged everyone to leave their in-fighting and focus on bringing the girls back, alive.
More than one month ago almost 300 schoolgirls were abducted from Chibok, Borno State. Some of the kidnap victims managed to escape, but the majority are still missing.
Boko Haram group claimed responsibility for the abduction, and the dreaded sect leader Abubakar Shekau promised to sell the girls in the market.
In another video released later Shekau showed the girls, saying they were converted to Islam. He suggested to swap the children for Boko Haram prisoners currently serving their term.
The first reaction of the authorities was categorical rejection of negotiations with the terrorists. However later they expressed readiness to negotiate with Boko Haram sect on the release release of the abducted girls.
Despite the fact that enormous national and global resources have been involved in the find-and-rescue operation, the parents are still waiting for the government and the military to bring their children back.
Goodluck Jonathan is to visit Chibok today, May 16.
Photo: Kashim Shettima
In the interview with CNN correspondent, the governor said there was no any other option left for the nation and for the Federal Government (FG).
Speaking on the issue, Shettima also lamented that he could reach out for President Goodluck Jonathan on the matter only three weeks after the incident had taken place.
"If I have to talk to the devil to secure the release of the girls, I will do so. President Jonathan did not act on time and did not talk to me over the kidnappings until 19 days after."
Former Education Minister Obiageli Ezekwesili supported the idea of negotiation and regretted that the national tragedy had received political colouring, adding that "we are dealing with a situation where there is a complete breakdown of trust" between the FG and Borno State.
She urged everyone to leave their in-fighting and focus on bringing the girls back, alive.
More than one month ago almost 300 schoolgirls were abducted from Chibok, Borno State. Some of the kidnap victims managed to escape, but the majority are still missing.
Boko Haram group claimed responsibility for the abduction, and the dreaded sect leader Abubakar Shekau promised to sell the girls in the market.
In another video released later Shekau showed the girls, saying they were converted to Islam. He suggested to swap the children for Boko Haram prisoners currently serving their term.
The first reaction of the authorities was categorical rejection of negotiations with the terrorists. However later they expressed readiness to negotiate with Boko Haram sect on the release release of the abducted girls.
Despite the fact that enormous national and global resources have been involved in the find-and-rescue operation, the parents are still waiting for the government and the military to bring their children back.
Goodluck Jonathan is to visit Chibok today, May 16.
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