Federal Government has revealed that the security agencies had thrice struck a chord to rescue the abducted Chibok girls.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this known at a news briefing to update the public on efforts of government to rescue the girls, saying the attempts were, however, stalled by a contact group and the division in the Boko Haram camp.

Mohammed reiterated the commitment of the government “to trace, locate and ensure the safe and successful release of the Chibok girls’’, saying in July 2015, a contact group was in touch with government with credible facts attesting to the fact that some of the girls were alive.

He said the President was briefed and he gave his assent for further negotiations on their release, saying precisely on July 17, 2015, the DSS opened negotiations process with the group holding the Chibok girls. However, in return for the release of some of the girls, the group also made some demands.

According to him, these included the release of some of their fighters arrested including some involved in major terrorist actions, resulting in several fatalities, and others who were experts in manufacturing of locally assembled explosives, saying this was difficult to accept, but appropriate security agencies had to again inform Mr President of these demands, and its viewed implications.

Mohammed said again, the President gave his assent believing that the overall release of these girls remains paramount and sacrosanct, saying government and the security agencies worked out the modalities of the swap which included creating the safe haven, or necessary place of swap and working out the logistic details.

He said it was finally agreed by all parties that the first step for the swap would commence on August 1, 2015, saying On 4th August, 2015, the persons who were to be part of the swap arrangements and all others involved in the operation were transported to Maiduguri.

The minister said in spite of the setback, the government and the security agencies did not relent in the bid to ensure that the girls were released safely, saying on Nov. 13, 2015, another fresh negotiation process with the group was initiated.

According to him, this time, there was the need to discuss a fresh component in order to avoid issues that had stalled the former arrangement, sayingby Dec. 10, 2015, another negotiation process was in place, but it failed to achieve results because of the varying demands by the group.

He said since the beginning of 2016 the security agencies had remained committed and also taken the lead to ensure their release, saying renewed efforts had commenced using trusted assets and facilitators to ensure the release of the girls.

Mohammed appreciated the resilience of Nigerians in the fight against insurgency and terrorism and specifically appealed to the parents and relatives of the Chibok girls, stressing those who had shown concern in resolving the matter should continue to trust the efforts of government to deal with the situation.