The recent video released by the Book Haram militants showing about 50 Chibok girls among the over 200 girls who were kidnapped in 2014 has raised some dust again.
The militant group has stated that some of the girls have been killed by airstrikes by the Nigerian military. It also said that it would release the girls on the condition that its members who are in prison are released.
A group argues that nothing should be spared in rescuing the girls. As such, if it involves a prisoner swap, then so be it. Another group argues that it is unethical to dialogue with militants as it would be sending the wrong signal to other people, encouraging them to take to militancy in order to have their demands met. Besides, the same militants who have been freed would still attack Nigeria in future.
Both sides have powerful arguments. However I'd like to stick with the former. The prisoner swap seems to be the only way to get the girls who have been missing for so long. If other means could work, it should have worked by now. It is easy to say that the government shouldn't negotiate with terrorists until it is your loved one who is affected (God forbid). Moreover, prisoner swap is not new to the world. In 2014, US President, Barrack Obama, swap five Taliban fighters held in Guantanamo bay for one American soldier, acknowledging that the released fighters may still harm the US. That was done for one soldier. Why can't we do same for hundreds of girls?
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