We'll Negotiate With Boko Haram To Release More Girls - Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the Federal Government would not rest on its oars until it secures the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls believed to still be under the captivity of Boko Haram.

He also insisted that for the 21 girls released on Thursday to the government no swap deal was struck contrary to insinuation that government exchanged four Boko Haram members in its detention facility to secure the release of the girls.

The VP received the 21 Chibok girls on Thursday night where they are being recuperated at the Department of State Services (DSS) medical centre located along Airport Road, Abuja.

He visited the health facility in company of the Director General of the DSS, Lawal Daura; Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed; Minister of Women Affairs; Aisha Alhassan; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Ahmed Zanaib, among others.

Osinbajo also debunked speculations that the Red Cross Society aided government in securing the release of the girls, saying all what the renowned international humanitarian organisation did was to provide medical assistance to the girls at the point when they were released to government.

He revealed separately that the Swiss government aided the negotiations and that only one out of the 21 girls had a baby.

He also disclosed that the parents of the girls would be free to visit the girls as from Friday, October 14.

“There was no swap of any kind. Even when we started negotiations, we said we will consider all options available to us. Absolutely, there was no exchange of any kind this time.

“But we must be sensitive to the fact that the government wants these girls back and alive, again, we must balance it against the security and safety of the country,” the VP said.