PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that he is willing to negotiate with the Boko Haram if the group can provide him with enough proof that the kidnapped Chibok school girls are alive and well.

In April last year, Boko Haram abducted over 200 pupils from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in Borno State while they spelt in their boarding school. Despite a global campaign for their release, about 209 of them are still being held with no indication that they will be set free soon.

Of late, the Nigerian Army has recorded some success against Boko Haram, capturing many of its strongholds and freeing many of its prisoners. However, despite this, there has been no sign of the Chibok girls and in the past, Boko Haram has said it would only release them in exchange for its commanders being held in government custody. 

Negotiations of some sort have been taking place between the government and some factions of Boko Haram since President Buhari assumed office but it is not yeast clear if the negotiators speak for the entire group. Speaking to Al Jazeera yesterday, President Buhari reiterated his stance that the Nigerian military must crush Boko Haram by December but said he was ready to negotiate the release of the Chibok girls. 

President Buhari added: “They have to prove to us that the Chibok girls are alive, they are well and then we can negotiate with them. We said it and we meant it that if we are satisfied that the girls are alive, we shall negotiate with them.”

 “As soon as the rainy season comes, which is by the end of the year, Boko Haram will virtually be out of their main stronghold and that will be the end of it. Attacks by Boko Haram on townships and military installations will certainly stop.”

 In addition, he denied  rumours that he supports the total implementation of the sharia in the country, adding that he had been voted by a majority of Nigerians. According to President Buhari, implementing sharia that way would need the constitution to be amended.