‘Nigeria, militants deal still in place’

Disruptions are not going to prevent the implementation of a deal recently mediated between Nigeria and the Boko Haram militant group, says Chad, which has mediated the accord.

The second-in-command at the Chadian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the agreement to free more than 200 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls was still in place.

Moussa Mahamat Dago said, “We are waiting for the next phase which is the release of the girls.”

On April 14, Boko Haram militants kidnapped 276 students from their secondary school in the northeastern town of Chibok. Reports say 57 of the girls managed to escape but 219 remain in captivity.

The abduction case has drawn national and international condemnation. The Nigerian government has been heavily censured for what has been described as a failure to contain the rising violence in the African country.

The accord to release the captives was announced by the Nigerian military last week. However, a ceasefire supposed to be part of the agreement has been broken, and 25 more girls were abducted this week.

Nevertheless, Dago said, “So far, there is no reason for others to doubt this agreement.”

Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its operations in 2009. Over 10,000 people have so far been killed in the assaults.

HN/HMV/SS