Red Cross denies involvment in Chibok girls’ release

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Monday that it was not involved in the negotiation that led to the release of 82 Chibok school girls from armed opposition.

Ms Aleksandra Mosimann, Communication Coordinator, ICRC, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.


Mosimann said ICRC acted as a neutral intermediary based on the agreement of the two parties involved as specified in its mandate.

“We were not involved in the negotiation for their release, as negotiations often imply a political process which is contrary to the political and neutral nature of ICRC work.
“I can confirm that in the early hours of Sunday May 7, the ICRC only transferred 82 Chibok girls from the armed opposition to the government of Nigeria.
“We transferred the girls with the agreement of both parties involved.
“This however means the girls were handed over to us by the armed opposition group that had held them and we handed them over to the military,’’ she explained.