The International Committee of the Red Cross has said it did not take part in the negotiations for the release of the 21 Chibok girls.

Peter Maurer, the International President of the ICRC said this while correcting reports that the organisation negotiated the release of 21 Chibok girls.

Maurer said, “Basically, the ICRC does not negotiate these issues of hostage taking, issue of controversy between highly contrasting parties or religions. But if parties who have conflict have an agreement or are negotiating an agreement and they need the facilitation of the ICRC to execute that agreement and if it has a humanitarian impact, the ICRC is ready to play its role.

“We say the role of the good offices of the ICRC. So, we don’t negotiate; we help to execute the agreement because of our role as a neutral intermediary. It is in that role that 21 Chibok girls were handed over to us by the opposition Boko Haram armies to release to the government of Nigeria.”

Azeez