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| Nigeria Denies Formal Talks on Captive Schoolgirls | Nigeria Denies Formal Talks on Captive Schoolgirls |
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| DAKAR, Senegal — With reports swirling in the Nigerian media of a possible negotiation to free hundreds of schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamist extremists, and the country’s top armed forces commander ruling out force to do so, the government’s chief spokesman again denied Tuesday that any “formal, official” talks were underway with the extremist group Boko Haram. | |
| At the same time the spokesman, Reuben Abati, said that there had been a “deluge of people offering information” in response to a $300,000 reward for help in freeing the girls, and that “some people in government have been granting audiences to people who say they have information.” | At the same time the spokesman, Reuben Abati, said that there had been a “deluge of people offering information” in response to a $300,000 reward for help in freeing the girls, and that “some people in government have been granting audiences to people who say they have information.” |
| Mr. Abati’s remarks, made in an interview from the Nigerian capital, Abuja, neither confirmed nor apparently ruled out some type of discussion with Boko Haram, or at least with people who claim to have contact with the group. They appeared to be consistent with surprising statements made on Monday by Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who all but ruled out the use of force to free the girls. | Mr. Abati’s remarks, made in an interview from the Nigerian capital, Abuja, neither confirmed nor apparently ruled out some type of discussion with Boko Haram, or at least with people who claim to have contact with the group. They appeared to be consistent with surprising statements made on Monday by Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who all but ruled out the use of force to free the girls. |
| “Where they are held, can we go there with force?” Chief Marshal Badeh was quoted as saying by the official Nigerian news agency, suggesting that the risk of harm to the girls in a military operation was high. He also said, “We know where they are,” a remark that was not confirmed in any of the Western capitals now aiding the Nigerians in the search. | “Where they are held, can we go there with force?” Chief Marshal Badeh was quoted as saying by the official Nigerian news agency, suggesting that the risk of harm to the girls in a military operation was high. He also said, “We know where they are,” a remark that was not confirmed in any of the Western capitals now aiding the Nigerians in the search. |
| A top official in Cameroon confirmed that troops had been dispatched to that country’s border with Nigeria, an area thought to have many members of the Islamist militant group. “Cameroon is a collateral victim of an aggression that is unfortunately spilling over,” said Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the country’s communications minister, who declined to say how many troops had been sent. | A top official in Cameroon confirmed that troops had been dispatched to that country’s border with Nigeria, an area thought to have many members of the Islamist militant group. “Cameroon is a collateral victim of an aggression that is unfortunately spilling over,” said Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the country’s communications minister, who declined to say how many troops had been sent. |
| And in fresh evidence that Boko Haram continues to rampage largely unchecked in Nigeria’s northeast, residents of Buni Yadi — where dozens of students at a state school were slaughtered in February — said that Boko Haram fighters entered the town in pickup trucks on Monday evening and killed several dozen police officers and soldiers. Unusually, the Islamists warned residents to simply stay out of their way, announcing that they were there to kill security agents, not civilians. | And in fresh evidence that Boko Haram continues to rampage largely unchecked in Nigeria’s northeast, residents of Buni Yadi — where dozens of students at a state school were slaughtered in February — said that Boko Haram fighters entered the town in pickup trucks on Monday evening and killed several dozen police officers and soldiers. Unusually, the Islamists warned residents to simply stay out of their way, announcing that they were there to kill security agents, not civilians. |
| The American military is conducting manned and unmanned surveillance flights over the Sambisa Forest, a wilderness in the country’s far northeast where the girls are likely being held. But a State Department spokeswoman distanced Washington from the Nigerian officer’s statement that the girls had been located. | The American military is conducting manned and unmanned surveillance flights over the Sambisa Forest, a wilderness in the country’s far northeast where the girls are likely being held. But a State Department spokeswoman distanced Washington from the Nigerian officer’s statement that the girls had been located. |
| “We don’t have independent information from the United States to support these reports you referenced,” the spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, told reporters at a briefing. “We certainly would not discuss publicly this sort of information regardless.” | “We don’t have independent information from the United States to support these reports you referenced,” the spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, told reporters at a briefing. “We certainly would not discuss publicly this sort of information regardless.” |
| Mr. Abati himself appeared to put some distance between the Nigerian government and the officer’s affirmation that the military know where the girls are. | Mr. Abati himself appeared to put some distance between the Nigerian government and the officer’s affirmation that the military know where the girls are. |
| “We should look at the context in which the chief of defense staff made the statement,” he said. “The military has been under a lot of bashing the last few days. That statement restores confidence in the ability of the military. It gives hope.” | “We should look at the context in which the chief of defense staff made the statement,” he said. “The military has been under a lot of bashing the last few days. That statement restores confidence in the ability of the military. It gives hope.” |
| The latest declarations by Nigerian officials highlight the dilemma facing the government. The Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, had appeared to rule out discussions with Boko Haram nearly two weeks ago. Yet with the girls’ captivity dragging on, and a growing realization of the risks of a military operation, talk of negotiations is gaining ground. | The latest declarations by Nigerian officials highlight the dilemma facing the government. The Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, had appeared to rule out discussions with Boko Haram nearly two weeks ago. Yet with the girls’ captivity dragging on, and a growing realization of the risks of a military operation, talk of negotiations is gaining ground. |
| “There seems to be a negotiation going on between the Boko Haram and the government. This is what I have learned,” said Senator Ahmed Zanna, who represents part of Borno State, the principal terrorist base, in the country’s national assembly. But Mr. Zanna, a frequent critic of the government, urged caution in appraising the government’s declarations. | “There seems to be a negotiation going on between the Boko Haram and the government. This is what I have learned,” said Senator Ahmed Zanna, who represents part of Borno State, the principal terrorist base, in the country’s national assembly. But Mr. Zanna, a frequent critic of the government, urged caution in appraising the government’s declarations. |
| “Most of the statements they are giving out are untrue,” Mr. Zanna said. “People don’t even believe what they are saying now. The Nigerian government, they are contradicting themselves all the time.” | “Most of the statements they are giving out are untrue,” Mr. Zanna said. “People don’t even believe what they are saying now. The Nigerian government, they are contradicting themselves all the time.” |
| Chief Marshal Badeh’s remarks were given at a pro-Army rally on Monday that some Nigerian news media described as having been paid for by the government. | Chief Marshal Badeh’s remarks were given at a pro-Army rally on Monday that some Nigerian news media described as having been paid for by the government. |
| Jibrin Ibrahim, a political scientist and a leader of the antigovernment protests in Abuja, called it “renting a crowd” in a column in Sahara Reporters, a Nigeria investigative news website. The website said those who attended the rally were taken there in buses paid for by the government; photographs showed them wearing red T-shirts similar to those worn by the antigovernment protesters. | Jibrin Ibrahim, a political scientist and a leader of the antigovernment protests in Abuja, called it “renting a crowd” in a column in Sahara Reporters, a Nigeria investigative news website. The website said those who attended the rally were taken there in buses paid for by the government; photographs showed them wearing red T-shirts similar to those worn by the antigovernment protesters. |
| Mr. Abati denied that the government had organized any demonstration this week. “The government is interested in getting the girls back alive,” he said. “The terrorists are using the girls as human shields. They have their guns trained on the heads of the girls,” the spokesman said. | Mr. Abati denied that the government had organized any demonstration this week. “The government is interested in getting the girls back alive,” he said. “The terrorists are using the girls as human shields. They have their guns trained on the heads of the girls,” the spokesman said. |