Breaking News: Boko Haram Offers Swap For Kidnapped Girls

Boko Haram Offers Swap For Kidnapped Girls

More than a year after 219 girls were seized from a boarding school, an official says the government might talk to the group.

The girls were kidnapped while taking exams

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Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram is offering to hand over more than 200 girls kidnapped last year in exchange for the release of a number of militant leaders being held by the government.

The abduction in April last year of the girls from their boarding school in the town of Chibok in northeastern Nigeria caused outrage around the world, with a "Bring Back Our Girls" campaign reaching as far as the White House.

President Buhari last month agreed to set up a force against Boko Haram

A human rights activist who revealed the recent offer said the new initiative reopens an offer made last year when former president Goodluck Jonathan was in power.
At that time, Boko Haram said it would release the 219 girls in exchange for 16 of its own detainees but last-minute problems caused the potential deal to fall through.

Video: Captives Arrive At Refugee Camp

Negotiator Fred Eno, who was involved in last year's talks, revealed "another window of opportunity" had opened within the past few days, but he could not disclose details.
Mr Eno said the recent killings of around 350 people over the past nine days by Boko Haram fits with the pattern of increased violence as the Islamists look for a stronger negotiating position.
The five-week-old administration of President Muhammadu Buhari offers "a clean slate" to bring the militants back to negotiations which had become poisoned by the different security agencies and their advice to the former president, Mr Eno said.
It is not known how many Boko Haram suspects are detained by Nigeria's intelligence agency, whose chief President Buhari sacked last week.
Presidential adviser Femi Adesina on Saturday said Nigeria's government "would not be averse" to talks with Boko Haram.

Video: 1 April - Nigeria Promises Action

"Most wars, however furious or vicious, often end around the negotiation table," he said.
Thousands of suspects have died in custody, and some detainees wanted by Boko Haram may be among them.
Amnesty International alleges that 8,000 detainees have died while in military custody.
In May, about 300 women, girls and children being held captive by Boko Haram were rescued by Nigeria's military, but none were from Chibok.
It is thought that the militants view the Chibok girls as a last-resort bargaining chip.

Video: The Educator Targeted By Boko Haram

Meanwhile, Nigeria's defence ministry has said that troops have arrested the mastermind of bombings in the central cities of Jos and Zaria this week that killed at least 69 people.
While no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, they are said to bear the hallmarks of Boko Haram.
The terror group has been waging a war against the Nigerian government since 2009. It wants to set up a state adhering to strict sharia law.