‘I’ll negotiate with Boko Haram for abducted girls’ release,’ Buhari says

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his government would not rule out the possibility of negotiating with Boko Haramif it would indeed secure the release of the abducted Chibok girls.

playPresident Muhammadu Buhari addresses members of the National Working Committee during the meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party at the headquarters of the party in Abuja, Nigeria July 3, 2015. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

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Buhari however said that he would only discuss with the credible leaders of the group.

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Boko Haram terrorists

 (AFP)

The president made the comments on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, during an interview on CNN with Christiane Amanpour.

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President Muhammadu Buhari being interviewed by CNN's Christiane Amanpour in April 2015.

 (CNN)

He said:

"We have to be very careful about the credibility of various Boko Haram leadership coming up and claiming that they can deliver. We have to be very careful indeed and we are taking our time because we want to bring them safe back to their parents and their school.”

When asked if he was against negotiating with Boko Haram, he said:

“I cannot be against it because as I told you our main objective as a government is to rescue those girls back to their schools and rehabilitate them back to normal sight. If we are convinced that the leadership that presented itself can deliver those girls safe and should, we will be prepared to negotiate what they want.”

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Femi Adesina

 (Daily Sun)

Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina had earlier said that the government would negotiate with the terrorists if necessary but it would do so from a position of strength.