War on Boko Haram: Money replacing military might?

-After release of Cameroonian hostages, Nigerian government claims deal to release abducted girls

– Islamic sect yet to comment

A week after the Cameroon government declared and publicly paraded the over 27 hostages released by Boko Haram, the Nigerian authority has also claimed that it has concluded a deal with the Islamist sect, Boko Haram to release the over 200 girls that were abducted in a school in Chibok.

Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh, on Friday told senior military officials from Nigeria and Cameroon meeting in Abuja that a “ceasefire agreement” had been concluded between the government and the rebels.

“I have accordingly directed the service chiefs to ensure immediate compliance with this development,” he added.

However, sources told Al Jazeera that substantial progress had been reached in negotiations about the abducted girls but that no definite deal had been agreed.

A precedent of previous government and military claims about an end to the deadly five-year conflict and the fate of the missing teenagers left many observers cautious.

Just like the case of Cameroon where the declaration failed to give the terms of the alleged negotiations, one would imagine what the Nigerian Government would be paying for ransom for the over 200 girls abducted.

There is also an allegation that Cameroonian negotiator; Honourable Abba Malla was part of the negotiations alongside other top Nigerians.

However, the United States said it could not confirm whether a deal had taken place. “Obviously, we would welcome an end to hostilities, a restoration of security and, I think it should go without saying, would welcome the release of those girls that have been gone far too long. But we cannot independently confirm that at this point,” said State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf.

Leaders of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, which has been pressuring the government to act, gave a cautious welcome to a possible release.

“We are monitoring the news with huge expectations,” they said on Twitter. “This ceasefire is incredibly promising, but we aren’t there yet – until every girl is released negotiations must continue,” added Hussaini Abdu, the country director for ActionAid Nigeria.

If this turns out to be true it will be some of the best news Nigerians have heard for decades.

The fact that the announcement comes from the top of Nigeria’s military ought to give it considerable weight. This is not a whisper or a rumour of a deal. It is a statement from the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

Just like the unanswered questions in the Cameroon release, there is massive skepticism here, and some question whether the announcement was in any way timed to coincide with the imminent announcement that President Goodluck Jonathan is going to run for re-election.

Air Marshal Badeh gave very few details apart from saying a ceasefire had been struck with the group known as Boko Haram and that the Nigerian military service chiefs had been instructed to comply.

Then he walked away – no more details and – certainly – no questions from the media, who had been expecting a somewhat duller statement following a meeting between the top brass of the Nigerian and Cameroonian military.

Then it was over to the politicians and spokesmen to fill in the large gaps, including the fate of the Chibok girls, who have to an extent already become political pawns.

Islamic sect mute Despite the much publicity given by the Cameroonian authority as well as the pronouncements by the Nigerians, Boko Haram leaders are yet to confirm or say a word.

An analysts questions – “But what is the position of the jihadists who have been causing havoc across the north-east? That is the big question.” And went on to say, “It would, of course, be more convincing if the news of the deal had come from both sides”.

Pundits hold that the dreaded Boko Haram militants must have been overloaded with ransom in cash from Cameroon and Nigeria, reason why they are not making any comment or causing more havoc.

There are however reports that, 8 Cameroonian soldiers and 107 Boko Haram fighters were killed during fierce fighting in its far north region last Wednesday and Thursday.