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.
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