The Federal Government has not reached agreement with the Boko Haram insurgents on the release of the Chibok girls, the National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki told Council of State on Tuesday.
Despite international outrage that greeted the abduction of over 200 Chibok girls over six months ago, the girls are still in Boko Haram’s captivity.
Briefing State House correspondents after the Council of State meeting presided over by President Goodlcuk Jonathan, Governor Godswil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, blamed the media for what he called misrepresentation that agreement had been reached for the release of the abducted girls.
According to him, the NSA however assured the Council that negotiation between the government and representatives of the insurgents is ongoing in the Republic of Chad.
Akpabio, said “The NSA was of the opinion that high level contact with the Republic of Chad was made and that some persons who acted on behalf if a Boko Haram and who claimed to have authority also had discussions with them and there are some Nigerian officials with them and of course, no agreement has been reached yet.
“It is just that the press probably misunderstood what was reported, the discussions are on-going.
“What came out of the NSA briefings was that the President will do everything possible to ensure the release of those young girls and to ensure protection of lives and property and that will include dialogue, where you can have the people to dialogue with because you cannot dialogue with people that are faceless and therefore every opportunity must be explored to ensure peace return to the region.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, while speaking said Boko Haram’s capture of Mubi, the second largest town in Adamawa State does not suggest that the military is helpless.
Badeh, is also not comfortable with the emphasis being placed on the capture of his home town, Vintim, in Adamawa State.
His words, “How can Nigeria be helpless? If CDS loses his hometown, it is the same thing as losing Lagos. Any part of Nigeria that is lost, the CDS carries the weight.
“It is immaterial whether it is my hometown, whether it is my house that is burnt or it is Emeka’s house that is burnt. Whoever’s house is burnt in Nigeria, the CDS is pained”.
