Buhari Paid N1 Billion To Secure Chibok Girls Release

The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari paid 3 million euros (over N1 billion) to secure the release of 103 Chibok girls.

According to respected American newspaper Wall Street Journal, 1 million euros was spent on securing the release of 20 Chibok girls on October 16, 2016 and another 2 million euros was spent on securing the release of 82 Chibok girls on May 6, 2017.

Recall that 276 girls were abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state in April 2014 under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Of the 276, at least 163 have secured their freedom so far – 57 escaped shortly after being abducted, 3 also escaped afterwards, and the remaining 103 were heavily paid for by the Nigerian government.

While the Federal Government had claimed at the time that five Boko Haram commanders were exchanged for the second batch of negotiated release of 82 girls, the Wall Street Journal has found that 2 million euros was added to the deal.

According to reports, President Buhari had initially refused to accept the deal but later succumbed, adding a condition that any payment to the terror group must be a step towards a final peace agreement.

The government has yet to confirm the veracity of Wall Street Journal‘s report.