Red Cross Denies Involvement In Negotiation For Release Of Chibok Girls

The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, has refuted claims by the Buhari led government that it participated in negotiations for the release of some of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

On Thursday, October 13, 2016, the President Buhari through his spokesman Garba Shehu had announced the release of 21 schoolgirls by the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram, while adding that the release of the girls was brokered by the Red Cross and the Swiss government.

“The release of the girls, in a limited number is the outcome of negotiations between the administration and the Boko Haram brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss government.” Shehu said in a Facebook statement.

The spokeswoman of the ICRC told an NBC News reporter, Alexander Smith, that the humanitarian organisation wasn’t part of the arrangement.

“Spokeswoman for the @ICRC tells me it was not part of negotiations to free the 21 Chibok girls, contradicting the Nigerian government,” Smith tweeted.



Smith later tweeted, “Spox clarifies that they meant they had no part in the *negotiation* but did act as a neutral intermediary in the handover."