FG, Boko Haram negotiations begin

The Federal Government has started negotiations with Islamist sect Boko Haram.  Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati told Punch that the dialogue was however not the type envisaged by Nigerians.

“I can confirm to you that talks are ongoing at the background. But the talks are not the kinds being envisaged by Nigerians. I know that some Nigerians are expecting that a venue should be chosen and a banner will be placed there indicating that the Federal Government is holding dialogue with the group there. That is not the kind of talks we are talking about here. The ongoing talk is a back channel one in which those who know members of the group are talking with them on behalf of the government.”

According to the report, the government is not dealing directly with the sect, but rather talking to people who know some of its members.

Boko Haram originally demanded that the terms of the negotiations include the release of all its jailed members as well as a request that the negotiations take place in Saudi Arabia.

Boko Haram has been responsible for the death of hundreds of people since their uprising, with their bombing attacks occurring mostly in Northern states of the country.

This news of the secret manner of negotiations has gotten Nigerians apprehensive as many think that the Federal Government might offer them some kind of compensation similar to the Amnesty Programme of Niger Delta militants. And it doesn’t sit well with Nigerians. The sect has terrorized, killed and destroyed the peace of the nation for several months. The secret negotiations therefore with the possibility of some form of compensation sounds like weakness on the part of the government.