Sources
close to Boko Haram, in an exclusive chat, have told Telegraph UK that Boko
Haram has dropped demands for its top commanders to be released in talks with
the Nigerian government and is prepared to start releasing up to half its
kidnapped schoolgirls in coming days.
The militant
Islamist group, which kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls a month ago, is
willing to conduct a "gradual" release of its hostages in return for
the release of Boko Haram prisoners in Nigerian jails, it was claimed.
In a
significant concession, the group has abandoned demands for its top commanders
to be released,
seemingly
aware that this would be politically impossible for the Nigerian government.
The
Telegraph first reported details of Boko Haram's offer of an imminent prisoner
exchange last Tuesday, when sources close to some of the militants' families
said that a senior Islamic cleric from northern Nigeria would be appointed to
mediate on its behalf with the government.
The cleric
has since been joined by a former aide to one of the group's founders. Neither
man has been named, possibly for their own safety. While the Nigerian
government has insisted that it is not willing to enter prisoner swap
negotiations, the source claimed that dialogue had already been going in secret
for several days.
The source
said:
"Contrary
to the public rejection of any swap deal by the Nigerian government, there are
some on-the-ground talks taking place. An agreement was reached about two or
three days ago in principle to start releasing some prisoners."
He said that
among the prisoners that the group wanted released would be wives and families
of Boko Haram fighters, some of whom have been taken into custody by the
Nigerian government in order to exert emotional pressure on the fighters
themselves. The source added:
The group
also has a list of lower-level fighters that it wants released as well, but
they are not high-profile ones,"
He said that
in exchange, Boko Haram was willing to start a "gradual" release of
around 100 of the girls – possibly beginning as early as the coming the week.
"Depending
on how the other side responds, the girls will be released in small groups.
They will be left at a certain safe location, and the authorities will then be
told as to where they can pick them up from."
Details of
the offer emerged as officials investigated reports that Boko Haram was
responsible for the kidnapping of up to 10 Chinese workers in neighbouring
Cameroon, where the group now also has a presence.
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