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| Chibok girls |
The Council of State rose from its meeting on
Tuesday with a statement that the Federal Government had yet to reach any
agreement with the Boko Haram sect on the fate of the abducted Chibok girls.
It said although discussions were still ongoing,
it was clear that the media misunderstood the position of the government on the
reported ceasefire.
Governor Godswill Akpabio said this while
briefing State House correspondents of the outcome of the meeting presided over
by President Goodluck Jonathan.
He was joined at the briefing by Governor Adams
Oshiomhole of Edo State and Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State.
Akpabio said the council was briefed by the
National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), on the efforts being made
to rescue the schoolgirls.
He 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 of Boko Haram and who claimed to have authority also had
discussions with them and there are some Nigerian officials with them.
“Of course, no agreement has been reached yet, it
is just that the press probably misunderstood what was reported, the
discussions are ongoing.
“What came out of the NSA’s 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.
“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.”
Akpabio said the council was satisfied that the
Defence Ministry and all the agencies had taken the right steps aimed at
ensuring peace and tranquility.
While saying that the President was on course,
the governor said sooner or later, Nigerians would hear good news.
He urged Nigerians to be patient and that the
issues of terrorism were not issues that could be finished within a day of two.
“There are some instances in which countries had
to contend with insurgency for years, but in the case of Nigeria, we said we
must find a practical means of bringing insurgency to an end in the shortest
possible time so that Nigerians can sleep with their two eyes closed.”
Additional report from Punch
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