Boko Haram’s condition for release of Chibok schoolgirls irresponsible, Yoruba elders say

The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has described as irresponsible the condition offered by Abubakar Shekau, leader of Boko Haram, for the release of school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno state.

Shekau had, in a video released online, said he would only release the over 200 girls in exchange for his followers in the custody of the federal government.

Since the girls’ abduction at the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok about a month ago, the world has consistently agitated for their release from the sect’s custody.

At its executive council meeting in Ibadan on Friday, the YCE, also known as 'Igbimo Agba Yoruba', posited that the demand was out of place and inconsistent with the law of natural justice.

Speaking with journalists on behalf of the organization, the Publicity Secretary of the Council, Oluyemi Falade, said there was no comparison between criminals being detained for their act and the innocent girls abducted by the Boko Haram, adding that the call for swapping was grossly irresponsible.

"YCE appeals to the group to release the girls to their distraught parents who have nothing to do with the action of the Federal Government. We also appeal to the neighbouring countries to assist Nigeria at this time of her need as they themselves may one day require similar assistance from Nigeria, because the world is no longer safe for anybody", the YCE said in a communique jointly signed by Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, Idowu Sofola, SAN and Falade, President, Secretary and Publicity Secretary respectively.

While expressing concern over the spate of insurgency, kidnapping and other vices across the country, the YCE noted that the situation was fueled by growing unemployment among the Nigerian youth.

"We appeal to the Federal, the State Governments and all employers to expand the scope of employment in the country so as to reduce these crimes to minimum level", the Council added.

The YCE also commiserated with the Federal Government, Anambra and Lagos States' governments and their people on the death of Chukwudifu Oputa, retired Justice of the Supreme Court, and Michael Otedola, a former Governor of Lagos State.

Paying glowing tributes to the two elder statesmen, the Council said, "Justice Oputa left an indelible legacy for all other judges to emulate by his forthrightness, loyalty to the bench and fearlessness in all the judgements he gave when he was alive", adding, "Otedola as the Lagos State governor between 1992 and 1993 served the state meritoriously".