He said that the military will carry on with its operations, informing that the video released by Boko Haram is still under analysis.
The Chief of Defense Staff, Abayomi Olonishakin, said the military will continue to fight the Boko Haram sect and that negotiation with the sect is a political decision.
Mr. Olonishakin said this on Monday, 15 August, 2016 while addressing correspondents at the Presidential Villa. He said that the military will carry on with its operations, informing that the video released by Boko Haram is still under analysis. He said that the Army will make comments on it at the appropriate time.
“The operation is being conducted appropriately. The meeting was about how we handle crisis, all forms of crisis, be it flood or terrorism. The military’s decision is that we are going ahead with our operations,” Mr. Olonishakin said.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, speaking at the Presidential Villa also said that the government, through its National Security Agency (NSA), is in talks with the Boko Haram sect for the release of the abducted Chibok girls but that the government is being very cautious not to engage the wrong people.
He said that people will soon forget about the girls once the effect of the video reduces but the government is working tirelessly to ensure the return of the girls. He appreciated the #BringBackOurGirls campaign group for its commitment to the return of the Chibok girls.
“For us, it is not just because of the release of the video but because of our belief that there will be no final closure to Boko Haram until we are able to resolve the issue of these girls. I am talking from a point of knowledge. It does not matter what other people say. I know that the government is in touch with the group. We are not even just reacting to the video; we have gone far beyond the video in talking to the group already,” he said.
