Friday, October 17, 2014

Nigerian Government, Boko Haram Agree To Ceasefire

Written by Karls Tsokar and Kanayo Umeh, Abuja
Nigerian Guardian

• Hope Rises For Chibok Girls’ Release

• CDS Directs Service Chiefs To Comply With Agreement

• No Conditions Attached Yet, Says Govt

THE Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Friday directed the service chiefs (Chief of Army State, Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Naval Staff) to immediately comply with the ceasefire reached between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram terrorist sect which has killed thousands of people people, including women and children.

  This is ostensibly to give room for negotiations. Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, during a routine security briefing alongside representatives of security agencies in Abuja, disclosed that there was no condition attached to the ceasefire yet from the sect.

    The group kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls 187 days ago from Chibok in Borno State. They are being held captive at unknown location(s) till date. The kidnap has attracted international condemnation, leading to the now famous BringBackOurGirls protests across the world.

   Announcing the ceasefire yesterday in Abuja at the end of the conference on Nigeria-Cameroun Trans-Border Military Operations, the CDS said the agreement to  cease fire has being concluded and all involved are to comply.

  His words: “Without any prejudice to the outcome of our three-day interactions and the conclusions of this forum, I wish to inform this audience that a ceasefire agreement has been concluded between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ahlul Sunna Li Daawa Wal Jihad (Boko Haram).

  “I have accordingly directed the service chiefs to ensure immediate compliance with this development in the field.”

  The government was reported to have had two meetings with some representatives of the group before the truce was reached.

  Although it is not yet clear the terms agreed on, sources have it that one of the major requests of the government is the release of the Chibok schoolgirls.

    On their part, the terrorists were said to have demanded for the unconditional release of some of their ‘men’ in custody of the Nigerian military.

   It appears that the Federal Government’s close collaboration with the governments of Chad and Niger Republic, led to the yet to be firmed up truce.

  Omeri stated: “We can confirm to you that there have been contacts between the government and the representatives of Boko Haram.

  “The discussions are essentially in relation to the general insecurity in the northeast and also the need to rescue all captives of the terrorists, including the students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok.

  “From the discussions, they indicated their desire for and willingness to discuss and resolve all associated issues.

  “They also assured that the schoolgirls and all other people in their captivity are all alive and well.

  “Already, the terrorists have announced a ceasefire in furtherance of their desire for peace.

  “In this regard, the government of Nigeria has, in similar vein, declared a ceasefire.

  “Finally, this is to assure Nigerians that the greater goal of this process is to ensure the return of normalcy in the land, especially in parts of the country troubled by the activities of terrorists”.

    However, Omeri was silent on the identity of those negotiating on behalf of the federal government, but said representatives of Boko Haram were led by Danladi Ahmadu, said to be its the Chief Security Officer, while Chadian President, Gen. Idriss Derby, facilitated the ceasefire deal.

  Omeri also revealed that from the federal government’s discussions with the terrorist group, they indicated desire to resolved all issues.

  He assured Nigerians that the greater goal of the process is to ensure the return of normalcy in the country, especially in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa states and other parts of the north mostly affected by the activities of the sect.

  On why past dialogues with the sect failed, Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said they were never confirmed by the federal government, as all of them were still within the realm of “hearsay.”

  According to him: “This time, this is being facilitated by government, so is not just the group. I want to say that people are not correct to say that there has been a similar thing before.

  “The previous one is just a speculation and it has never officially been endorsed anywhere.”

  Badeh, at the meeting, laid special emphasis on the state of cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroun and their collective determination to address the challenges of terrorism and other acts of criminality confronting both countries, especially in the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).

  On his part, Camerounian CDS, Rene Claude Meke, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing efforts to address issues bordering on cross-border problems and challenges existing along the common borders of both countries.

   He said the objective of the meeting was to enhance cooperation and collaboration and agree on ways and means for effective military operations to curb the insecurity and criminality between their common borders.

   Meke added: “This discussion focused on coordination, intelligence sharing, communication, media plan and procedures of handling displaced persons and refugees.

  “The meeting resolved that each party should coordinate and plan its operations under the agreed permanent simultaneous operations, while guaranteeing information flow through agreed liaison officers and focal points at the tactical operational levels, as agreed during the deliberations.”

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