Lawal Daura, director-general
of the Department of State Services (DSS), says negotiating with Boko Haram was
the “safest” means of rescuing the three abducted lecturers of the University
of Maiduguri and 10 women from captivity.
The
woman and lecturers were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in June and July,
respectively.
The
women were abducted from a police convoy in Borno state while going for a
burial and the lecturers were taken hostage while on oil exploration in the
Lake Chad basin.
Speaking
at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and the freed captives, Daura said
any attempt to rescue the victims forcefully could have endangered their lives.
The
DSS DG said the negotiation process was slow because they had to deal two
groups in different locations.
“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.
“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."
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