The Boko Haram swap proposition

The offer by the Boko Haram insurgent sect to release the over 200 students that it kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State on April 14, in exchange for the release of some of its members in the custody of Nigeria’s security agencies, presents to the Federal Government what may be its most dicey challenge yet since the Boko Haram insurgency began. On one hand, the entire country and international community are resolved on the need to free the Chibok girls as quickly as possible. On the other hand, however, is the troubling scenario of the moral underpinning of the country negotiating with an insurgent sect to release terrorists who have killed so many Nigerians.
It is no wonder, then, that the Federal Government has been vacillating on the controversial swap offer from Boko Haram. While the Nigerian authorities were earlier reported to have rejected the offer of a swap with Boko Haram, more recent reports suggest that some underground negotiations are going on, which could see as many as 100 of the girls released as early as next week, in exchange for the release of family members of terrorists, and some low ranking members of the sect held in various prisons across the country. The insistence of Boko Haram on the release of some of its members in prison custody is a confirmation that the Nigerian security agencies, indeed, have many of the Boko Haram members in their custody.
But, even as discordant tunes continue to emerge on the government’s position on negotiations with Boko Haram, our view is that the safety and quick release of the girls should be the most paramount consideration. We, therefore, enjoin the government to do whatever is required to get the girls back.
We are not totally unaware of the negative portendments of any deal with Boko Haram on this matter. Such negotiations may paint the government as weak. They are also risky as the sect may renege on its side of the bargain, and the negotiation many encourage more of such abductions in future. There is also the problem of releasing killers and mass murderers into the society.
But then, we must not lose sight of the fact that the security and safe return of the abducted girls is the most important thing in the present circumstances.
So, much as we believe that the government must not cave in to the brash demands of insurgents and terrorists, we are of the view that there has to be a meeting point. It will be foolhardy to say that Nigeria will not enter into talks with the terrorists when they still have more than 200 of our girls with them. There just has to be some form of negotiation. It is not all the time that agreeing to go into negotiations amounts to an admission of defeat. If we need to talk in order to have our girls back and end this orgy of bloodletting, let us do so.
This is, therefore, a situation that the Federal Government has to handle delicately. We believe the war against Boko Haram terrorism has now got to a tipping point. We must bring the girls back and find a way to win the war against terrorism. Most importantly, we believe now is the time for President Goodluck Jonathan to stamp his authority and become very decisive on this matter.