No swap deal with Boko Haram, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has ruled out the possibility of any prisoner swap deal with Boko Haram for the release of the schoolgirls in their captivity.

Britain’s minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, disclosed this to the media in Abuja on Wednesday evening after meeting with the president.

“He made it very clear that there would be no negotiations with Boko Haram that involved a swap of abducted schoolgirls for prisoners,” he said.

Over 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State, a month ago remain in their captivity without Nigeria making any headway in locating their whereabouts.

The Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, had said in a video message on Monday that he was ready to release the girls if the government would free detained members of the group.

In another video, the girls, numbering about 120, were seen all dressed in full hijab – suggesting that they have been converted to Islam, although some of them are already Muslims.

There have been divergent views on the possibility of a prisoner swap deal since the Shekau video message.

Nigeria is being helped in its search and rescue efforts by the US and UK ─ two countries that are officially opposed to prisoner deals.

Interior minister Abba Moro had initially said there was not going to be any prisoner deal, and his position was supported by Senate President David Mark.

But Tanimu Turaki, special duties minister and head of the Boko Haram amnesty committee, said the government was open to dialogue, although he did not comment specifically on a prisoner swap deal.