Omokri Berates Buhari For Negotiating Release Of Boko Haram Captives

A former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has slated President Muhammadu Buhari for negotiating with Boko Haram terrorists for the release of three abducted lecturers of the University of Maiduguri and 10 women from captivity.

The lecturers and women were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in June and July 2017, respectively.

The UniMaid lecturers were abducted during an oil exploration in the Lake Chad basin, while the women were kidnapped during a raid by the militant group on a military/police convoy on Damboa road, near Maiduguri.

According to the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Malam Lawal Daura, the release of the thirteen persons was the by-product of a series of negotiations directed by Buhari and facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“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,” he said while speaking at a meeting with President Buhari and the freed captives.

Faulting the process by which the thirteen persons were released, however, the ex-presidential aide said negotiating with the extremists is the reason terrorism is growing in Nigeria.

“I read the DSS boss explain how the Buhari govt negotiated the release of the Unimaid lecturers with Boko Haram. Once you negotiate with terrorists, especially if cash is involved, you create an industry that they‘ll milk when they need money. Money that will fund further terror!,” Omokri said.