The Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, on Monday said the demand by Boko Haram terrorists that their members in captivity be swapped with the abducted Chibok girls was a political one, and would have no effect on military operations to flush them out.
Olonishakin made the remark while addressing Statehouse correspondents after a workshop organised for top security chiefs on how to respond to emergency situations such as terrorism and flood inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
On Sunday, the Boko Haram sect released a video showing the abducted girls and demanded that the Federal Government release their members in its custody.
This request sparked up the call by the BringBackOurGirls group and the parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls who pleaded with the government to heed to the demands of the terrorists.
Boko Haram is holding more than 200 of the 276 final-year girls it seized from Government Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, on April 14, 2014.
Olonishakin told reporters the military would continue with its operations, also stating that the video is being analysed.
“That (call for the swap of the girls with Boko Haram fighters) is a political decision to be taken. The military decision is that we are going ahead with our operations. The operation is being conducted appropriately.
“We are analysing the video released by Boko Haram and we will make appropriate comments at the right time,” he said.
He also denied media reports that one of the men declared wanted gave himself up to the Nigeria Army and was asked to return home.
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
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