Hajiya Aisha Wakil, who is believed to be close to the
Boko Haram leadership, says the group is ready for
talks with the Federal Government on the fate of the
219 missing Chibok girls.
She said yesterday that she had been on the neck of
the Boko Haram leaders, who according to her
offered to honour her to dialogue with the
government and release the girls and other captives.
The group’s leadership might soon make a
pronouncement on their plan for the girls, she said.
Hajiya Aisha, who spoke with our correspondent on
the phone, said she expected the Boko Haram
leaders to come out and discuss with the
government.
She said: “Since I came back, I have been on their
neck. They have now agreed to come out and discuss
with the government and bring back the girls.
“I am for the Chibok girls and all the captives. They
are ready for peace. This is what they told me.”
Although Hajiya Aisha was not forthcoming on the
imminent release of the girls, whose abduction has
sparked a global outrage, she said: “I think they might
post some information on YouTube within 24 hours.”
The Army on August 14 declared Hajiya Aisha and
two others wanted for interrogation in line with the
Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 (as amended).
The others are a journalist, Ahmed Salkida, and Amb.
Ahmed Umar Bolori.
But Aisha has maintained her innocence, claiming
that she is not a shady personality.
In a reaction to the Army’s statement, she had said: “I
am Aisha Alkali Wakil. I understand that the military
declared me, Ahmed Silkida and Ahmed Bolori
wanted for having links with Boko Haram. It’s
interesting; now they believe me?
“I know the Boko Haram boys. I have been in front
fighting for peace long before Chibok girls were
kidnapped. Nigerian security knows me too well. I’m
not shady. Why declaring me wanted?
“I have had meetings with Chief of Army Staff and his
people. I told them the way forward, to allow me
come with some commanders of Boko Haram and
discuss with them, present the release of CBGs but
they chose to do things their own ways only and
never gave considerations to any of my suggestions.
“I want to inform the Nigerian people of my
innocence and make them realise that I am in
constant relation with the security personnel and
they know where to find me but wonder why I had to
be declared wanted on national news, even
mentioning my husband’s name alongside.
“This has put my immediate and extended family
under a lot of pressure and I do not deserve this
from the Nigerian government.
“Though they may not appreciate all my efforts to
proffer peaceful solutions to the menace of Boko
Haram, my name should not be mudslinged nor my
character defamed. Thank you.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, in an interview with
reporters on the sideline of the sixth Tokyo
International Conference on African Development
(TICAD VI) in Nairobi, Kenya last weekend, said the
government was ready to dialogue with bonafide
leaders of the group who know the whereabouts of
the girls.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media
and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as
saying: ‘‘I have made a couple of comments on the
Chibok girls and it seems to me that much of it has
been politicized.
‘‘What we said is that the government which I preside
over is prepared to talk to bonafide leaders of Boko
Haram.
‘‘If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick
an internationally recognized Non-Governmental
Organization (NGO), convince them that they are
holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release
a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which
they are supposed to know.
‘‘If they do it through the ‘modified leadership’ of
Boko Haram and they talk with an internationally
recognized NGO, then Nigeria will be prepared to
discuss for their release.”