Presidency Reportedly Begin Negotiations With Book Haram

There are reports that the presidency
has started negotiations with Boko
Haram. This comes a week after
president Buhari told CNN’s Christine
Amanpour that his govt will negotiate
with the terrorist sect for the release
of Chibok girls if they are assured of
the credibility of the leadership of the
sect they will be negotiating with.
The Nation reports that some of
President Buhari’s confidants and
leaders of the sect group are doing
the negotiations.
A source who spoke on the recent
development said
“The President’s appeal for peace in
the Northeast is yielding dividends
because a fresh facilitation of talks
between the Presidency and Boko
Haram has started. This latest
negotiation, which is at the
preliminary stage, is being
promoted by some mutual
confidants of the Presidency and
Boko Haram. The new deal may
lead to the release of some Chibok
girls to set the tone for a
comprehensive negotiation by both
sides. The President is extremely
cautious on this offer of negotiation.
Buhari has ordered security
agencies to screen or certify those
Boko Haram commanders interested
in facilitating this latest negotiation
to ensure that they are bonafide
leaders of the sect. The position of
the President is that why he is not
averse to a peace deal, the Federal
Government must avoid the costly
mistakes of the past which led to a
waste of time and huge resources.
The President wants the release of
the Chibok girls and quick
restoration of peace to the
Northeast; he is ready to negotiate
with the right people for sustainable
results.”
But there are strong indications that
the leader of the sect, Imam
Abubakar Shekau, is yet to be
involved in the new deal.
“I think we are still at the
preliminary stage. At the right time,
there is a way the negotiation offer
will be forwarded to their leader.
But the fact that some Boko Haram
commanders, whom US placed
ransom upon, might be part of the
negotiation shows that the crisis can
be resolved, if all hands are on
deck, “ another source said.