Government negotiators reveal that many terrorists are tired of fighting and want peace

GOVERNMENT negotiators involved in dialogue with Boko Haram terrorists have revealed that several of the sect's leaders offered to enter into a ceasefire because they are tired of the continued fighting.

 

Revealing this yesterday, Retired Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, the executive secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), said some Boko Haram leaders offered to negotiate a ceasefire because they are tired of fighting. Former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan set up the CCC to initiate a dialogue with Bioko Haram in a bid to see if the insurgency could be ended through negotiations.

 

Air Commodore Anas, added that the federal government and the insurgents should adopt an open mind to the ongoing talks for negotiation. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for expressing the government’s willingness to dialogue with the sect.

 

Speaking in Abuja 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, Air Commodore Anas confirmed that talks are proceeding. He added that Boko Haram neither asked for monetary inducement nor compensation during preliminary talks of the dialogue.

 

Air Commodore Anas added: “We want to note that none of the suspected Boko Haram elements that spoke with the CCC asked for any form of monetary inducement or compensation as a pre-condition for laying down their arms. 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 added that nevertheless, the centre will continue to support and encourage all efforts towards bringing insurgency to an end in our country. According to Air Commodore Anas, there is nothing wrong in exploring any possibility of securing freedom for the Chibok girls.

 

 “The CCC has noted with satisfaction, the pronouncement by President Muhammadu Buhari that some members of the Boko Haram terrorist group are in negotiation with the federal government over the possibility of releasing the Chibok secondary school girls abducted on April 14, 2014. While expressing support for the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari that the federal government was willing to dialogue with genuine leaders of the terrorist group, the CCC believes the new position had become imperative in view of the fact that military option alone has failed to resolve the issue.

 

“The centre believes that there is nothing wrong in exploring and exploiting every opportunity that will lead to freeing of not only the innocent school girls but every other Nigerian under shackles of the deadly insurgents. We urge both parties to approach the said negotiation with open mind and with utmost consideration of the interest of humanity,” Air Commodore Anas added.

 

He urged Nigerians to continue to trust and support President Buhari, even when he has to take tough decisions such as this knowing that what is upper most in his mind and that of everyone else is the freedom of the girls and all other captives. Air Commodore Anas added that the CCC's stance is predicated by the demands of some members of Boko Haram requesting for genuine and comprehensive dialogue that could lead to hundreds of them coming out to renounce their membership.