FG In Secrete Talks With Boko Haram Sect Over Abducted Girls

It was gathered on Monday that the Federal Government has started a secret talk with the members of the Islamist sect popularly known as Boko Haram, on how to free the over 234 school girls that were abducted From Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.


A source who claimed he was not authorised to speak on the subject, said the talks are being coordinated by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, through some Islamic clerics and elders in the North.

The dreaded sect members were asked to seize fire for the interest of both parties, in order to ensure a smooth dialogue.

It was gathered that the terrorist group requested that the Nigerian military should soften its pedals against their brethren as well as the unlawful detention of some of their members without trial.

The source, however, pointed out that the talks had nothing to do with "outright negotiation" with the sect since the Terrorism Act forbids payment of ransom.

It was further revealed that the people saddled with the talks have met with the vice president up to five times, and they comprised some Borno State elders who have links with some coordinators of the Islamists.

An undisclosed source within the Presidency, said: "The government has been engaging Boko Haram through the backdoor. This is being coordinated by the Vice-President.

"The insurgents used to send representatives or emissaries to some of these Northern/ Borno elders and clerics we have engaged. These leaders and clerics also give us feedback on their demands which centre on the need to stop military action against them; putting an end to mass arrests of their members and detention; and the release of detained Boko Haram members. The government is actually not negotiating with the insurgents, it is just discussing with them on the basis of ceasefire and the release of the innocent girls. We hope that there will be a mutual understanding which will be respected by both parties. Our ultimate objective is to secure the release of the girls" he said.

When asked how the dialogue was being carried out, he said: "The way we do it is that we feel their pulse or demand through some of these elders/ clerics or leaders who are known to them. We also tell them what we want. In fact, some of these facilitators of the talks have admitted that the Boko Haram leaders are known to them. We are not negotiating because even those who want to assist us do not support negotiation".

Another undisclosed source said: "I can only tell you that a lot of underground work is being done to set the abducted girls free. The latest challenge to the underground talks is the meeting in France where all the nations have agreed to join forces against the sect. This development in Paris on Sunday is making the sect to have a rethink if the ongoing talks should continue or not. In the next few days, we should know where we are going".

A high ranking security operative, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "There is no doubt that the government has been having indirect contacts with Boko Haram".