Boko Haram Plans to Exchange Kidnapped Schoolgirls for Imprisoned Comrades

Members of Boko Haram who kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls are seeking a prisoner swap for jailed comrades according to reports.

Shehu Sani, who had peace talks with Boko Haram in the past said he believes the video showing Abubakar Shekau,the leader of  Boko Haram threaten to sell the girls as “slaves” was proof that they intend to use them to negotiate with the government. In the video released earlier this week, Shekau threatened that he would sell the captives “in the market” to anyone wishing to take them as wives. 

Shehu Sani saw it as a veiled attempt to reach out for a trade with the Nigerian government. 
He said:

From my knowledge of the group, to have Shekau say that he will sell them is proof that this issue can be resolved.

If you look at the fact that these girls have already been in captivity for three weeks, then it is possible to detect a conciliatory tone in this statement from Shekau – he is not saying he is going to kill the girls. The group is most likely to want to attach some kind of conditions to the girls being released, such as the freeing of some of their own prisoners.”