FG still open to negotiation to free abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Abuja - Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy
Ogwu, says the Federal Government is still open to negotiation to
secure the release of over 200 schoolgirls abducted in April.
In an interview with the CNN on Friday in New York, and monitored
by the media in Abuja, Ogwu said “terrorism is a global problem
that requires global solution.”
She was speaking on the latest terrorist attacks in Kaduna and
Kano, which killed several Nigerians and injured many others.
Ogwu said the international community should use the momentum
created by the Chibok schoolgirls’ kidnapping to reflect and “go
forward” in the fight against terrorism.
The media recalls that it is now more than 100 days after the
schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in Chibok,
Borno.
“Instead of a military option, the strategy has widened to include
negotiation and dialogue with these people.”
“I believe that it is time to move forward really, to find a solution
to this problem, to find the girls first and foremost,” Ogwu told the
CNN.
The Nigerian UN envoy said the nation had been traumatised that
the schoolgirls have been kept by the terrorists for over three
months.
She said Nigerians have not given up hope on the release of the
girls as they have persevered in prayer vigils, protests and appeals
to their abductors to free them.
“I believe that it is time for us to get together in a concerted
action.”
“At the UN, where I am Nigeria’s Permanent Representative, I
made a statement in 2011 when the UN building in Abuja was
bombed.”
“I noted, very unequivocally, that violence and suicide are not in
the character of the Nigerian.”
“This is an alien culture. It is an external influence and it is
important to work concertedly with all nations to make sure that it
is not implanted in our culture.”
“We forbid suicide as a people and people who commit suicide are
not given a decent burial.”
“So, what indoctrination is that, that persuades a young person
who is named a terrorist to strap himself and bomb people or to
abduct children?”
“This is an alien indoctrination and part of the strategy to deal
with it is to de-radicalise these people.”
“They must be de-radicalised to become normal people again,”
Ogwu said.
According to the Human Rights Watch, Boko Haram has so far been
responsible for the death of 2 053 civilians in 95 attacks during the
first six months of this year.
In May, at the request of Nigeria, the terrorist group was added to
the UN Security Council's al-Qaeda-linked organisations subject to
an arms embargo and asset freeze.
-    NAN