Int'l Red Cross Society Reveals Own Role in the Release of 21 Chibok Schoolgirls

The International Red Cross society has exclusively explained its role in the Boko Haram release of 21 of the over 200 Chibok school girls abducted by the terrorist group since 2014.

VP Yemi Osinbajo during his meeting with the released 21 schoolgirls in Abuja on Thursday

 

In an exclusive interview with Premium Times on Thursday, the Red Cross Society who reportedly collaborated with the Swiss Government and mediated in the release of the abducted Chibok girls, has explained its role in the Boko Haram release of the 21 school girls abducted by the terror group in 2014.

 Elodie Schindler, the spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Africa, said; “The role we played was neutral intermediary. We were not involved in the negotiation.

“What we usually do is when two parties are negotiating, we don’t get involved. But when they have struck a deal, they can then call us in to mediate,” he said.

 Ms. Schindler said when the Nigerian government and Boko Haram reached a deal, they contacted the Red Cross to come in, inspect, and receive the girls, adding that her organisation played no other role beyond that.

 The Red Cross was also involved in a 2014 negotiation between the Nigerian government, under President Goodluck Jonathan, and the terror group. 

 A former information minister and Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, led the government team to the negotiation said to have been bungled at the last hour by the government‘s exuberant display of enthusiasm and excessive show of force.

 The Swiss Embassy is yet to speak on its role in the release of the girls.

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