The Director General, Department of State Services (DSS), Mallam Lawal Daura has disclosed the reason why the release of the kidnapped University of Miaduguri lecturers as well as some women abducted by Boko Haram sect was delayed. Daura who spoke on Tuesday when the released victims were presented to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House said the Service in collaboration with the Military opted for negotiation because military efforts toward securing their release could have endangered their lives.
He also explained the negotiation took time because the negotiators had to deal with two separate groups.
“We choose the path of negotiation because it was considered as the safest because any forceful attempt to rescue the victims could endanger their lives, These negotiations took several months and the Department of State Services with the support of the external elements of the group in diaspora and support from friendly countries and liaising with International Community of the Red Cross, made the rescue possible.
The process was slow due to the problem of dealing with two different groups based in different locations at the same time. In addition, the negotiations took place mostly outside the country, though subsequently finalised in the theater of operations. The negotiations were mainly centred on an attempt at conflict mitigation which include the fate of arrested members of the insurgent groups especially, accepting to free by government those found not to be culpable in any criminal action.
Also, possible cessation of hostilities especially the attacks with IEDs on innocent civilians, worship centers, schools and other public places in return for temporary stoppage of air strikes by helicopter gunships.”