Chibok schoolgirls 'alive' & deal is 'within reach' - hostage negotiator claims | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Wednesday 30 April 2014

Chibok schoolgirls 'alive' & deal is 'within reach' - hostage negotiator claims

Found this report a foreign site, Channel4.com. Read below..
A hostage negotiator in direct contact with the kidnappers of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria tells Channel 4 News their safe release is "within reach", but that their fate rests on a knife-edge.
The girls, we believe, are alive but they have been moved from the location to which they were originally taken," the intermediary told Channel 4 News. "It would not be hard to engineer a deal. It looks like they want to release them."
The kidnappers have warned, however, that attempts by the military to launch a rescue attempt "may result in the deaths of many of the captives".
They want a way out," said the negotiator, who has long experience of dealing directly with the Islamist group Boko Haram in previous hostage crises.

Boko Haram translates as "western education is forbidden" and, like the Taliban, the group opposes the education of Muslim girls, particularly if that education has western influence.

Even though most of the kidnapped teenagers are from Christian families, the intermediary says the group believes it has already succeeded in embarrassing the government and instilling terror in the civilian population.

Fate undecided
However splinter factions within the fractious group are understood to be arguing over what to do with their hostages. "The danger now is that the military will get involved and that can only end badly," he said.

Past kidnappings by the al-Qaeda inspired jihadist group, which is fighting for a strict sharia state in northern Nigeria, have ended with the execution of hostages as a result of attempted military intervention.

The hostage-takers have now been asked for a list of the girls' names as proof-of-life. The negotiator - who wanted to remain anonymous for reasons of personal security - said the group is demanding a ransom but added: "we are hoping they will soften their stance".
The Islamist insurgents abducted 273 girls, aged 16 to 18, from dormitories at the Chibok Girls' Secondary School in Chibok, Borno state, a fortnight ago. Around 40 girls reportedly escaped early on. The numbers of those originally kidnapped - and those still held captive - has been in dispute. Last week, the missing girls' parents insisted that government figures had dramatically underestimated the number held.

The school's headteacher, Mrs Asabe Kwambura, told Channel 4 News on Tuesday that a further 10 girls had since been "recovered". "For now, the total number of girls we have recovered is 53 while 220 girls are still missing," said Mrs Kwambura.

Relocated, and 'forced to marry'

The abductors, who have been in intermittent contact with the intermediary over the past 48 hours, claim to have released "a number of hostages" because "they did shehada" - meaning forcible conversion to Islam, a hallmark tactic of Boko Haram.

Channel 4 News has also established that the schoolgirls are not being held in the group's notorious bush camps in the Sambisa forest, an area 50 miles to the south east of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri. This region has reportedly been the focus of Nigerian military activity in recent days.
Instead, the hostages have, we understand, been split into smaller separate groups, a number of whom have been taken close to - or across - Nigeria's eastern border with Cameroon. This is an area from which Mohammed Nur, one of Boko Haram's leading commanders is known to operate.
"They have a problem," the intermediary said. "They have 220 captives and moving that many around cannot remain hidden. There is good, reliable, local knowledge as to their location. The military knows where they are."

The relocation of the teenage hostages has been corroborated by a senior community leader in Chibok, the town from which they were abducted. Dr Pogu Bitrus told Channel 4 News that he too has learned that following the kidnapping, many of the girls were forcibly converted and some then married off in neighbouring Cameroon. He did not cite his sources.

"Many were taken to the northern part of Borno state and then moved across into the Republic of Cameroon," he said. "After they converted to Islam, they were forcibly married off with a bride price of just 2,000 Naira [less than £10]." Dr Bitrus believes some of the girls do still remain in Boko Haram camps in the Sambisa forest. "The federal government must act fast" to avoid them suffering the same fate, he added.

59 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good!

Last to comment.

Alloy Chikezie said...

I pray they are still alive, and that no harm or sexual harassment has be done to them


Your comment will be visible after approval

MargateX said...

What rubbish is this an Indian film on nigerian stage or what? Please ppl should be warned against Northern region of that hellhole country(even though I still love her) else dey risk cheap bride prize less than d worth of tissue paper...

Anonymous said...

#BringBackOurGirls #BringBackOurGirls #BringBackOurGirls #BringBackOurGirls


CoolDiva speaks!

Anonymous said...

saw how intense for the search for flight MH370 searching for citizens that r obviously dead Gej cancelled whatever to mourn sambo dead brother and yet he has been going about his business while over 230 teenage girl citizens r been held if sambo daughter was among the girls kidnapped would the situation be same these are the kind of hoodlums we have as leaders GEJ would do more to make sure his 2015 election is not jeopardized and he will sit down and b waiting for God to intervene maybe we should all vote God for 2015 I hate I was born a Nigerian I hate this country I hate blacks sometimes I wonder if we r the same specie wit white folks comparing our leaders n theirs

I Love African Music said...

Hmmm. BOKO HARAM... haven't their sponsors gotten what they want? Please they should release these girls on time....

Unknown said...

wat kind of evil is dis..... dis girls re too little to go tru all dis

Unknown said...

What joy does this people really deserve in bringing pain to this poor mothers and the nation at large.... Pls they should give them all they want so that they will leave us in peace.....
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***

Unknown said...

This boko haram stuff will only be solved by God......
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***

Unknown said...

GOD IS WORKING. BOKO HARAM WILL SOON BE THING OF THE PAST IN JESUS NAME.

Alozie Paschal Okwara said...

I hope he is not lying because that would draw the curses of the grieved families later.

Anonymous said...

Don't believe this #bright bravo#

APPLE said...

Well, that is good news.

Anonymous said...

I said it before that any force to rescue those girls will be tragedy..Many politicians have continued to use their parents to score cheap political point without taking into consideration of the case..Abduction is sensitive issue which must bring a negotiator...People should learn how to deal with a situation before they blame government..

Angie said...

That negotiator should be held for questioning; that's if he exists; too many ghost stories.
He might be one of them.

Going for a walk, later!


* My R1.50c comment *

Anonymous said...

For the sake of those little girls and their families, I hope this is true. I hope they're all safe and untouched. I pray to God.

Anonymous said...

No money should be release because they will also use it in sponsoring more attacks in some states.

Hussain said...

Boko Haram are Deadly peoples that dont have heart and human feels. Jonathan shld not release any money to them, if he does that means he is sponsoring Boko Haram to destroy the North

Anonymous said...

God help us!!!!

Unknown said...

hmmmmm.......may God help us

Unknown said...

hmmmmm.......may God help us

Anonymous said...

Only God Almighty can save those innocent girls.

.................. Atutu

Anonymous said...

God pls keep dis little girls

Unknown said...

GEJ Pls do something.....Time is running fast

#BringBackOurGirls #BringBackOurGirls #BringBackOurGirls #BringBackOurGirls



Adeyemi Ikuforiji 2015 Lagos State

ChyChy said...

May God save this country from d hands °Æ’ these demons. I pray the release these girls unharmed.

hannah udo said...

I pray de are save in jesus name amen.boko ha ayi aka oooooh

Amarachukwu. said...

May God help us Amen.

Anonymous said...

AMEN o! 'exciting life style consult'

Anonymous said...

Gej!!!!!! You are a Fucking bastard! If it's was Ur daughter in question I bet you would av done something!!! I hate you! I don't know y biko haram cannot even bomb aso rock sef awon Oloshi Oloriburuku Oshi!!!! Gosh am soo frustrated

Anonymous said...

mehn, this one be like all this American action film o. Shuuuuuu!!!!
Our Nigerian military men unadey try o but una neeed to go learn how to do una work better than this even if it is for the sake of posterity.
see the way American marine men caught Osama bin laden, i honestly wish the same can be done in this case. Well still npraying and keeping my fingers crossed for the safe, healthy and sane arrival of those beautiful young girls.

Anonymous said...

Honestly! We seriously need a Jack bauer! God pls help those innocent gals!.....

Anonymous said...

God touch d hearts of boko haram to release those innocent children,dey ave suffered enough

Anonymous said...

Too many stories... the girls have been taking across the boarder the girls have been married off, we are negotiating their release, they have been taken in groups of across the border whatever! my stand Nigerian forces at Sambisa forest should not stop searching that place till they comb the whole area, because all these coming up now is to distract the military. They should not stop searching the forest!!!

Unknown said...

May d Lord guide n keep d Girls Amen! May d Lord expose and destroy every enemies of dis country in Jesus name Amen!!!

Bella j said...

Hmm this has really gotten out of hand. .God please show mercy on your children. .

Anonymous said...

Sometimes, u guys comment like fools... u hear they have been forced into marriage and ur there saying u pray no sexual harassement would have been done.. mumu read to understand and not just comment like an idiot

Unknown said...

God save Our Land

@MEETD®EALEVANS™ said...

Pls I want to ask does jonathan sleep with all dis happenings


This comment reflect and represent the view of linda ikeji

Lady kim kim said...

Dis pple re nt bigger dan the host of heaven,dey will surely bow dat am sure........

Olubukola Ozone said...

Mr Negotiator, culd u at least let d ppl knw to wat end those girls wr taken? Thr demands I mean, abi, since dey said a rescue atempt spells doom, dey wil sha av a reason for kipin dem

Anonymous said...

How are we sure that this abduction is not a distraction. Tomorrow is workers day and no body should go out. This evil people may attack again

Anonymous said...

God wl save our girls from evil bokoboko in JESUS' name

ary said...

Till I see those girls I will never believe anything that comes outta the mouth of our government.

Anonymous said...

Mrs goodluck please hid your face in your purse with from shame.he don set o,Nigeria will buy weapon to be used in killing them if they pay them,on the other hand,the girls might lost their lives if is not paid. Oya,where are the wise men in nigeria with appointment,come and crack this issue now.i want to believe that all the girls are still alive and must return to their family in Jesus name.

Unknown said...

I just they're rescued safe and sound

DOBY DOBY said...

Dis boko pple ar they evn human?

Anonymous said...

Exactly what I was thinking , if this idiot thinks he can enter in 2015 using ojoro he has another thing coming . People ate tired of the bullshit and are frustrated . Riot go happen if he try am .

Anonymous said...

Boko haram wherever u pple r plz am beggin in the name of God to release n set those children free.

Anonymous said...

abducted from school!!! this is not a sharia country for Christ sake.


#bringbackourgirls#

Anonymous said...

God's Divine intervention is what Nigeria needs. Nigeria is in trouble!

Anonymous said...

You people don't get it. This is not just any kidnapping. It is a tactic. They kidnapped these girls, married them off, so they can give birth to children that they will raise to become Boko Haram members. They are raising an army. So no, Mr. Negotiator, they do not want or even plan to release the girls. The girls will be sent futher away from Nigeria where rescuing will be almost impossible. They cannot kill all the girls because they need them, by the way, list of girls is not proof of life. Why can't people see this? This is an army of more heartless terrorist that they want to train and raise from birth. Smh if you think it is a 'now' thing. If there's anything to be done, Now is when to do it or else when and even if the girls are returned, they may just be returned as die-hard BH fanatics.

Bbg Eze said...

God protect dem

Unknown said...

Our government should help us instead of running from state to state all in the name of election rally.if all of us get kidnapped who will vote for them after the rally???It's high time we put an end to this even if it means refusing to vote in the 2015 election

onyx said...

GEJ should just stopping making us look stupid. The whole world is searching for the missing MH 370 for weeks now for peolple that are probably dead,yet young teenagers are being held hostage and GEJ is going about his business. I used to respect him a lot before but God knows he has so disapointed me. Where is Aunty Patient? Is she not a mother? Have we heard her voice in all these? If its campaign she will be the first to call "my fellow widows" The Pm of south korea resigned because of the ferry accident that claimed life of high school kids. That is leadership........hmmmmmmm may God save us

Anonymous said...

Speechless! God help us!

Oby said...

These fuckers in government are actually negotiating with terrorists, where in the world do they do that! Kill those slimy worms already. Kill them all.

Anonymous said...

HAVE WE EVER SAT DOWN TO THINK THIS BOKO TIN IS TO RUIN JONA'S PRESIDENTIAL TIN,IF YOU SAY YOU WONT VOTE FOR HIM,PLS DO YOU KNOW THE CANDIDATES WE HAVE FOR NEXT ELECTION...OK LEMME TELL YOU..ITS BUARI AND TINUBU..BUARI IS A THIEF N MEAN FOOL I'M 100% SURE HE IS THE MAN BEHIND DIS AND EVEN JONA KNOWS BUT HE NEED TO BE WISE IN MAKING ALL DECISIONS.PLS LETS BE CALM N HELP JONA AND THE COUNTRY WHICH IS YOU AND I WITH PRAYERS..TO BE A LEADER IS NOT DOMINO PIZZA OR COLD STONE ICECREAM...ITS THE MOST DIFFICULT TIN EVER...JUST LETS PUT HIM IN OUR PRAYERS EVERYDAY FOR SAFE REALEASE OF THIS KIDS...LETS FORGET RELIGION NOW ITS AN INDIVIDUAL TIN ITS U AND NOT UR RELIGION..I'M A XTIAN N WNT CRICTISIZE MUSLIMS...ITS ALL ABOUT OW UR BROUHT UP AND D PERSON U'V DECIDED TO BE..ALL WE NEED IS PRAYERS NW N NT LOOKING FOR FAULTS..TRUST ME IF JONA TAKS ANY RUBBISH DECISION DOS GIRLS RE GONE.DO YOU FINK HE WNT HAVE PLANS..DS BOKOS KILLS EVERYDAY DOS GELS MEANS NOFIN TO THEM..PLS JUST PRAYER FOR THE GELS N NIGERIA AS A WHOLE.LINDA I'LL APPRECIATE IF YOU POST THIS FOR PEEPS TO READ THANKS

Anonymous said...

Praying for my dear country and the safe release of the school girls. Amen

Ola lib

adufe said...

OBASANJO for President!!!!!!!!

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