Editorial: Release of 27 hostages; Allegations that dampen celebration

President Biya, one of the doyens of African politics has once more demonstrated his negotiating skills with the release of 27 hostages kidnapped from the Cameroon soil. Among the 27 was the wife of Amadou Ali, vice-prime minister in charge of relations with the assemblies, the mayor and traditional ruler of Kolofata in the Mayo Sava division and12 other compatriots.

Communication minister, Issa Tchiroma in a press conference shortly after the freed delegation arrived in Yaounde showered encomium on the president for his negotiating dexterity which resulted to their liberty.

There was no mention of any ransom which appears to be the main motivation of the terrorists who will not accommodate hostages and feed them, no matter how horrible the meals could be without asking for some compensation. Whatever the case, The Guardian Post ties its flag on Tchiroma’s mast as the head of state revels in the scintillating success.

But as he is aware, the over 200 school girls kidnapped in Nigeria some six months ago have not been released. It is no longer a Nigerian internal affair given the international concerns and assistance from countries like the United States, Britain, France, Israel et al.

Cameroonian delegations have gone to the Nigerian high commission in Yaounde to express their solidarity while a number of religious organisations in Cameroon have been praying for the release of the girls. We are forced by statistical evidence to assert that President Biya can negotiate for the release of the girls.

Nigeria has failed and woefully so. President Goodluck Jonathan has been accused by his predecessor, General Olusegun Obasanjo of dragging his feet over efforts to have the girls released. Obasanjo is former military ruler who later became Nigeria’s civilian president.

A mediator sent to dialogue with the terrorists to bring back the girls returned with the stunned impression that Boko Haram was being sponsored by the Nigerian ruling party.

The motivation could be explained by the fact that the three north east states of Nigeria that traditionally do not support a candidate like Jonathan from the South would be disenfranchised giving advantage to the incumbent in next year’s presidential election.

But are the lives of nearly three hundred innocent girls in their prime worth the political sacrifice? Will Africa’s “big brother” say it cannot negotiate, at any cost, to free these girls? Would the Nigerian politicians in power have been so nonchalant if those girls were their daughters?

The abduction goes beyond internal affairs. Freedom for the girls is their inalienable right. Their plight poses a humanitarian problem and that is why foreign countries are involved in futile attempts to get them out of the forest.

Their location is reported to have been sighted and the excuse for using force is that they would be used as human shield and their lives put in peril. The Nigerian military has even demonstrated their incompetence to take on the Boko Haram militia head-on when some of them, afraid of the terrorists flee to Cameroon recently.

In such a situation, dialogue remains the only option to safe the girls. At The Guardian Post, we are of the conviction that President Biya can secure their release given his track record. The seven-member family of Frenchman, Moulin-Fournier was kidnapped from the Cameroonian village of Dabanga and taken to Nigeria and freed on 18 April 2013.

It was followed by the abduction of two Italian priests, Reverend Fathers Antonio Giovani Allegri and Paolo Giovanni Marta and a Canadian nun, Reverend Sister Gilberte Bisserie. They were also released thanks to President Biya’s unmatched negotiation wizardry. The catalogue continued with the seizure and later freedom of a French priest, Georges Vandenbeusch before last week’s release of 27 others.

All the freed hostages usually are taken to Unity Palace to express their gratitude to their liberator, President Biya. But while the president and the freed hostages celebrate, it has not been all about victory for the government.

There have been persistent allegations that huge sums are usually paid as ransom in exchange for the captives. SDF national chairman, John Fru Ndi has said without mincing words that most of the money paid by France to release the hostages was pilfered by senior officials working at the presidency.

If ransoms are not being paid, why would the impecunious terrorists kidnap, lodge and feed people of rich national or family backgrounds only to let them off the hook just for gratis?

Before Ali’s wife was released, there were widespread speculations that the terrorists were demanding as much as two billion francs. Some reports even said he should resign as a condition to free his spouse.

The credible online news site, SaharaReporters also alleges that the Cameroonian authorities paid the Boko Haram insurgents at least $400,000 in ransom ( about 200MFCFA) in order to secure the release of Francoise Agnes Moukouri, wife of vice prime minister in-charge of relations with the assemblies, Amadou Ali and twenty six others.

The site quotes a source who was part of the negotiation that led to the release of the hostages as saying in addition, the Cameroonian government agreed to release four commanders of the Islamist group who had been in Cameroonian jails.

The most disturbing part of the deal, as reported by SaharaReporters is that Boko Haram militants demanded and received a significant supply of arms and ammunition, including a guarantee by Cameroon that the weapons would have safe passage to insurgent fighters.

These are some of the allegations that dampen the spirit of celebration. It has not been all about jubilation. It is success in failure. Defeat in that after the French family was kidnapped; Cameroon security would have tightened its border with Nigeria. It did not.

There was the second, third, fourth and fifth kidnappings before the commander-in-chief declared war on the hooligans.

Since President Biya declared his war as he left for the United States for the US-African summit, there have been no more kidnapping. The terrorists have met with their waterloo each time they tried an incursion into Cameroon.

Some analysts thought they would have been enraged by the fatality they suffer through the Cameroon security barrel and execute the hostages in retaliation. But they were kept safely just as it is suspected the Chibok girls are well kept except with the fear of raping and impregnating them.

Their plight draws soul searching sympathy. For parents who have daughters, imagine if one of the girls is yours! The thought produces visceral repugnance that for over six months, the Nigerian authorities have been unwilling or unable to free the Chibok girls! Their immense sufferings do not seem to gnaw on the consciences of the Nigerian ruling class. Chilling and mind-boggling isn’t it?

We at The Guardian Post urge President Biya to on internationally acceptable humanitarian and human rights grounds do all to secure the release of the Chibok girls. On five different occasions, he has negotiated and freed a total of 40 hostages, 12 of who have been Cameroonians and the rest French, Chinese, Italian and Canadian nationals.

And who says he might not be nominated for the next Nobel Peace Prize if he succeeds to secure the release of the Chibok girls?” The entire African continent and the world at large are looking up to you Mr President.