Nigeria has apparently ruled out talks of a prisoner swap with the Boko Haram to free the more than 260 schoolgirls held captive for over a month. A Nigerian minister had opened the door to freeing the girls in return for releasing the group’s prisoners. But on Wednesday, British Minister Mark Simmonds said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has precluded negotiations.

Mark Simmonds: “The president made very clear to me that he wasn’t prepared to negotiate with Boko Haram for the exchange of the abducted girls and prisoners. But what he also made very clear to me is that he wanted his government to continue a dialogue to make sure that a solution could be found and that security and stability could return to northern Nigeria for the medium and the long term.”

The news comes as the Boko Haram has carried out a new attack near the school in Chibok where the girls were seized, killing four Nigerian soldiers. A group of villagers meanwhile have reportedly killed and detained scores of alleged Boko Haram fighters in an ambush.