Saturday PUNCH gathered that as part of the moves, security agencies had started conducting a fresh profiling of the Boko Haram detainees in line with a directive of the Federal Government.
It was learnt the profiling would include the time they were arrested and the de-radicalisation programme they had undergone.
Findings showed that besides the military, the police, the Nigeria Prison Service, the office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Justice would be involved in the swop talks.
It was gathered that although the government had not decided on the militants that would be released in exchange for the Chibok girls, insurgents, who had not been tried could be the first beneficiaries of the swop deal. Also, detainees who had undergone the “de-radicalisation” programme of the government, would be considered under the arrangement.
Investigations showed that the government had started addressing problems that could hinder the swop talks with the sect following its split early this month.
Boko Haram had, on August 3, 2016, split with ISIS naming Abu Musab al-Barnawi as the leader of the group.
But a few days later, the former leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, in a video, dismissed the appointment of the new leader and insisted that he remained the authentic leader of the group.