'Military rescue operation dangerous for Chibok girls'

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged not to facilitate the rescue of the over 200 abducted Chibok schoolgirls being held captive by Boko Haram through military operation.

A former Director at the Military Defence Headquarters, Brigadier-General Ayodele Ojo (retd.), advised the President to release Boko Haram members in exchange for the schoolgirls rather than use military operations to rescue them.

President Buhari, in a recent meeting with parents of the girls, said the nation was anxious to have the abductees back and later urged the military to use the right strategy from the ground forces to rescue the pupils.

“I had a meeting with the mothers and fathers of the Chibok girls. The nation is anxiously waiting for you to provide intelligence on their whereabouts and then, the ground forces developing the strategy and tactics to recover them,” Buhari had said penultimate Friday, during a live chat with the commanders and troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, shortly after the wreath-laying ceremony of the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration in Abuja.

However, Ojo revealed that such military efforts by the Federal Government troops could jeopardise the girls’ safety.

“I personally will not canvass for a military rescue operation. Such operation is fraught with danger, no matter how meticulously or painstakingly planned. Take, for instance, the United States’ military attempt in 1980 at a rescue operation of its 52 diplomats held hostage in Iran.

“Despite the planning that went into it, the rescue operation not only failed, but it resulted in the death of eight American soldiers and the destruction of two of its military aircraft.

“Having this (botched US rescue operation) at the back of our minds and relating it to getting the Chibok girls back alive, the best option is to negotiate for their release. In doing so, the government should consider the possibility of swapping. Fortunately the President is not averse to negotiations,” Ojo said.

The ex-general suggested that, for the sake of the schoolgirls, the Federal Government should look at the possibility of acceding to Boko Haram’s demand by releasing their bomb experts to them in order to have the Chibok girls back home alive.

He noted that the US government once swapped five top Taliban commanders in exchange for the release of its soldier, Bowe Bergdahl.

Ojo added, “The Jordanian government was also prepared to swap its pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kasasbeh, captured by the Islamic State with Sajida al-Rishawi, a failed suicide bomber in the Jordanian government custody since 2005, whose release ISIS had demanded for.

“Please note that the failed suicide bomber had been in Jordanian custody for nine good years. Yet, they were prepared to swap her for their pilot. I am, therefore, pleading with the Federal Government to swap the Boko Haram bomb experts with the Chibok girls.”