TheCable

President Muhamamdu Buhari has disclosed that the federal government is negotiating the release of the schoolgirls Boko Haram abducted from Chibok and Dapchi.

The Musab Al-Barnawi faction of Boko Haram is suspected of being behind the abduction.

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Buhari said thus while receiving Rex Tillerson, the United States secretary of state, at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Adesina quoted the president as saying that Nigeria was working in concert with international organisations and negotiators to ensure that the girls were released unharmed by their captors.

“We are trying to be careful. It is better to get our daughters back alive,” the president reportedly said.

Buhari thanked the US for assistance rendered in the fight against insurgency, noting that Nigerian forces are good, “but need assistance in the areas of training and equipment”.

The president promised that his administration would continue to do its best to secure the country, adding that he would be in Yobe state, from where Dapchi schoolgirls were abducted, later this week “as part of my condolence and sympathy visits to areas where we have had unfortunate events”.