Former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
THE
violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on Thursday indicated its readiness
to end its campaign of violence but on the conditions that ex-Borno
State Governor Modu Sheriff was arrested and peace talks held in Saudi
Arabia.
Also, the sect is asking for
compensation for families of its members killed in the course of its
terrorist acts and the rebuilding of its mosques by the Federal
Government.
It also demanded the release of all its members in the custody of security agencies.
Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, the
second-in-command to the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, gave the
conditions on Thursday during a radio conference with journalists in
Maiduguri, Borno State.
Abdulaziz did not explain why the group wanted Sheriff arrested.
Just on Wednesday, the Inspector-General
of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said Sheriff and Senators Ali Ndume and
Ahmed Zanna had been put under surveillance to determine their alleged
links with the sect.
The three have been variously fingered as financiers of the group
Abdulaziz named a former Head of
State, Muhammadu Buhari; Dr. Shettima Monguno; a former Yobe State
Governor, Bukar Ibrahim; Ambassador Gaji Galtimari; and Aisha Alkali
Wakil, and her husband, Alkali as “trusted” Nigerians it would be
ready to negotiate with in Saudi Arabia.
On the sect’s team would be Abdulaziz, Abu Abbas, Sheikh Ibrahim Yusuf, Sheikh Sani Kontogora and Mamman Nur.
Abdulaziz said, “We are not actually
challenging the state, as people are saying, but the security (forces)
that are killing our members, children and wives.
“We are highly offended but if this
government is sincere, everything (the attacks) will come to an end. We
want to dialogue but government must show sincerity in its handling of
the situation.”
More than 1,000 persons have been
killed in attacks on places of worship, military and police facilities
as well as drinking joints since the sect launched its war against the
government in 2009.
Last year, suicide bombers from the
sect attacked the Police headquarters and the UN Building, in Abuja,
killing 44 persons. On last Christmas Day, Boko Haram also attacked St
Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, killing at least 46
parishioners.
It has subsequently attacked several other worship centres, including the St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Kaduna last Sunday.
Before now, the Federal Government had
made several claims that it was in dialogue with the sect but Abdulaziz
said there had been no contact between Boko Haram and the government. He
said the sect wants the talk outside the country because the
government had proved not to be trustworthy.
The PUNCH could not verify the
identity of the man , who claimed to be Abdulaziz even as there were
minor inconsistencies in the communication between him and the
journalists on Thursday.
Apart from the fact that Abdulaziz is
not the usual official spokesman for the sect, he spoke in English
Language instead of the Hausa/Arabic that the sect is known for .
But, the Presidency on Thursday said the
proposed ceasefire by Boko Haram was a welcome development, if it was
intended to achieve the objectives of peace and security.
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati,
said the position of President Goodluck Jonathan had been that he was
ready for dialogue if members of the sect could come forward.
He said, “Yes, I have seen the story in
which the Boko Haram is reportedly declaring a ceasefire and the opening
of dialogue. I think it is important to restate the position of
government in this matter.
“The Federal Government is committed to peace and security for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“ If what the proposed ceasefire is
intended to achieve are the objectives of peace and security, then it is
a welcome development.
“Don’t forget that President Jonathan
made it clear that if the people behind Boko Haram are ready to come
forward, and table their grievances, then government will be willing to
listen to those grievances.
“There have been attempts before now, by
concerned persons to reach out to the Boko Haram through back channels,
in response to government’s call that all efforts should be made to
resolve the problem. I suspect that this latest development may be
related to that.”
Meanwhile, Governor Ibrahim Shettima of
Borno State on Thursday said security agencies must be alive to their
responsibilities by probing the alleged involvement of politicians in
the state in the activities of Boko Haram.
Shettima gave the charge while speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja.
Borno State is considered to be the hotbed of activities of the fundamental.
He said, “On the issue of the
involvement of politicians, I think is within the realm and the
responsibility of the security agencies to unearth the truth.
“I am more of a developmental politician
and I am more interested in addressing the core issues that makes our
society vulnerable to the antics of religious bigots and all sorts of
misfits that are inducting our young ones to these things.
“So, I don’t want to dabble into of the
work of security agencies neither do I want to respond to allegations
and accusations from any quarter. But it is the responsibility of
security agencies to unearth those behind Boko Haram.”
Culled from Punch
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