Allaying the fears of most Nigerians who have received with skepticism the ceasefire agreement between Boko Haram and the Federal Government, the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North and Minister special duties, Dr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, yesterday assured that Boko Haram won’t renege on the ceasefire agreement reached with the Federal Government.
Speaking at the State House in Abuja,
Turaki said the ceasefire will last forever, though the terms of the
agreement is yet to be disclosed. He said the ceasefire does not mean
automatic end of the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
states.
He said: “Of course it is not something
that is done for a specific period of time. It is something that should
be forever. As far as we are concerned it is something that has been
agreed and I don’t think there will be any basis for anybody to renege
on the agreement. We have been having Painstaking meetings with the
leadership of Boko Haram, and like most of you must have heard, the
directive for ceasefire that was given on tape, basically they took into
account, one; the sincerity of the committee which by necessary
implication also the sincerity of the President, regarding resolving the
issue of insecurity in the North.
“Number two also unlike their thinking
that the committee was meant to serve as a trap for them, they also
realised that not only is the committee very sincere, government and
indeed Mr. President is also very sincere about the issue.”
He added that the Boko Haram sect
members “also took account of the fasting in the month of Ramadan which
is on and felt that they should give peace a chance so that our Muslim
sisters and brothers will be able to perform their religious obligation
this month without any harassment, without any fear of any bomb
exploding and any firing at them while they are in their place
of worship.
“We are still working on the framework,
where we will sign an agreement and we will make that public wherever
and whenever we agree on the time and place and the international and
local media, all Nigerians will be privy to it, it is something that
will be done openly and transparently for everybody to know that indeed
that not only have we been speaking with the proper people, but that
there has been a lot of good faith on both sides of the divide,” he
said.
Speaking on why there were bomb blasts
in some states while the ceasefire negotiation was going on, he said:
“In the course of the negotiation of the ceasefire, that issue was
raised and they denied that their members did it.
“But again as far as the commission of
crime is concerned, security agencies anywhere will not rely on the
confessions for denial of supposed suspect as the basis for their
investigation.”
Turaki added: “We have spoken with
somebody who is second in command as far as Boko Haram is concerned and
he has informed the media that he has been discussing with us with full
knowledge and authority of Imam Abubakar Shekau, so we have no cause to
doubt him. We have done the checks on him, just as they have done checks
on us also and we have realised that yes we are dealing with the
proper people and with the proper leadership of the organisation.”
He disclosed that his committee is still
working on the terms of the ceasefire agreement and that it will be
disclosed to the public as soon as completed.
“We are working on it especially now
that there has been ceasefire, directed by the Boko Haram and then we
are discussing with the broader framework and as soon as we are done
with that Nigerians will be communicated.”
On whether State of Emergency will be
relaxed in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa as a fallout of
the ceasefire, he said: “I think even with the declaration and
announcement of ceasefire, I think the issue of the state of emergency
will have to stay but in such a way and manner in which security
agencies are fully satisfied that normalcy has been restored and that
there is order and peace.”
On fears about other deadly sects
springing out from Boko Haram, the Minister also disclosed that the
committee is still making efforts to reach out to the other extremist
group, like Ansaru in order to ensure total peace and security in the
country.
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