Boko Haram Leaders Want To Negotiate With Buhari

The Centre of Crisis Communication (CCC) has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his willingness to negotiate with the deadly Boko Haram sect for the release of the abducted Chibok School girls.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, September 16, the executive secretary of the centre, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd) said there was nothing wrong in exploring and exploiting every opportunity that will secure the freedom of not only the school girls but every other Nigerian under the sect’s captivity.

Anas stated this while giving an update on the dialogue being facilitated by the CCC between the government and the insurgents to free the 219 abducted Chibok girls, The Nation reports.

According to him, some Boko Haram leaders were tired of fighting and that’s why they decided to negotiate with the government.

“In fact, many of them said that they were simply tired of fighting and being fugitives in a war that they were deceived into joining,” he explained.

Anas disclosed that none of the insurgents willing to negotiate asked for any monetary inducement or compensation as a pre-condition for laying down their arms.

He advised the federal government and the insurgents to adopt an open mind and consideration of the interest of humanity to the ongoing talks for negotiation, adding that the centre would continue to support and encourage all efforts towards bringing insurgency to an end in our country.

The CCC boss said it became imperative to negotiate in view of the fact that the option of military fighting alone has failed to resolve the issue.

“The Centre views this gesture as good. It has opened a window of opportunity for dialogue for those insurgents that are willing and ready to lay down their arms.

“This position is predicated on calls made to this Centre by some members of the Boko Haram requesting for genuine and comprehensive dialogue that could lead to hundreds of them coming out to renounce their membership,” he said.

Anas therefore, called on Nigerians to not relent in trusting and supporting President Buhari even at times when he has to take tough decisions.
Speaking in Paris with members of the Nigerian community, President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly said there was ongoing negotiations aimed at ensuring the release of the school girls captured by Boko Haram terrorists in Chibok, Borno state over a year ago.

However, Ahmad Salkida, a Nigerian journalist said to have access to top commanders of the Boko Haram sect, disclosed that the negotiation is not real and he knows because he is one of the many Nigerians with privileged information. According to him, the insurgents will not negotiate unless ISIS does negotiates in Iraq and Syria.