There's Some Informal Discussion Between PMB, Boko Haram
Sources close to the Boko Haram leaders have said that informal discussions between the administration of the President Muhammadu Buhari and the insurgents are currently going on.
Vanguard reports that the sect might have decided to hold talks with the new leadership of the country.
One of the sources, who was engaged in peace talks with terrorists in previous administration, said that “government does not want to be seen negotiating with the terrorists”.
However, he confirmed that there were some level of discussions between the group and the government.
The source, who works with a worldwide agency with some presence in Nigeria, said: “I can tell you that there is some behind-the-scene informal discussion with certain segments of the Buhari administration, going on in Nigeria.
“But the truth is that the government does not want to be seen to be talking with the group apparently because of the failure of all previous efforts to dialogue with the Boko Haram men in and outside Nigeria under the previous administration.
“The aim of the renewed effort is to resuscitate the discussions from where we ended abruptly under the Jonathan administration and take it forward from there since there is a new government in place in Nigeria.
“The true position is that some of those with contacts with the leadership of Boko Haram have gone back to assure them that there is a new government in place and that things can be done differently from what it was in the past when they were dribbled over and over again by top government officials who wanted to make quick gains under the guise of negotiating with the militants.”
According to the source, the Boko Haram leaders had been guaranteed that the Buhari administration was more open and ready to talk with them.
“Indeed, we have begun the peace process from the Boko Haram side and that may signal a new hope for the release of the missing Chibok girls,” the source said.
It would be recalled that the sect Boko Haram said it is ready to release more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped from a boarding school in the town of Chibok in exchange for militant leaders held by the government.
It should be also noted that the Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, said last week that despite earlier stance President Buhari might negotiate with the deadly Boko Haram sect.
Former president, Goodluck Jonathan in October 2014 announced ceasefire agreement with the insurgents.
However, in a strange development, Boko Haram rejected that they had agreed to make peace with the Nigerian government. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau realesed a video on October 31 saying that the Nigerian government claims of a ceasefire was a lie and, adding that the 219 abducted Chibok schoolgirls had been converted to Islam and married off.
Vanguard reports that the sect might have decided to hold talks with the new leadership of the country.
One of the sources, who was engaged in peace talks with terrorists in previous administration, said that “government does not want to be seen negotiating with the terrorists”.
However, he confirmed that there were some level of discussions between the group and the government.
The source, who works with a worldwide agency with some presence in Nigeria, said: “I can tell you that there is some behind-the-scene informal discussion with certain segments of the Buhari administration, going on in Nigeria.
“But the truth is that the government does not want to be seen to be talking with the group apparently because of the failure of all previous efforts to dialogue with the Boko Haram men in and outside Nigeria under the previous administration.
“The aim of the renewed effort is to resuscitate the discussions from where we ended abruptly under the Jonathan administration and take it forward from there since there is a new government in place in Nigeria.
“The true position is that some of those with contacts with the leadership of Boko Haram have gone back to assure them that there is a new government in place and that things can be done differently from what it was in the past when they were dribbled over and over again by top government officials who wanted to make quick gains under the guise of negotiating with the militants.”
According to the source, the Boko Haram leaders had been guaranteed that the Buhari administration was more open and ready to talk with them.
“Indeed, we have begun the peace process from the Boko Haram side and that may signal a new hope for the release of the missing Chibok girls,” the source said.
It would be recalled that the sect Boko Haram said it is ready to release more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped from a boarding school in the town of Chibok in exchange for militant leaders held by the government.
It should be also noted that the Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, said last week that despite earlier stance President Buhari might negotiate with the deadly Boko Haram sect.
Former president, Goodluck Jonathan in October 2014 announced ceasefire agreement with the insurgents.
However, in a strange development, Boko Haram rejected that they had agreed to make peace with the Nigerian government. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau realesed a video on October 31 saying that the Nigerian government claims of a ceasefire was a lie and, adding that the 219 abducted Chibok schoolgirls had been converted to Islam and married off.
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