The Boko Haram Islamic group have today agreed to a cease fire deal shortly after rising from a meeting with the Borno State government. Two of the members met with reporters in a secluded area of the Metropolis.
Excerpt:
” I, Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, the 2nd Commander in charge of southern and northern Borno after Imam Abubakar Shekau of Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram. For sometimes now, we the members of Jamaatul ahlil Boko Haram sunna lidawati wal jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram have recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of Borno state where we resolved that giving the prevailing situation there is the need for us to seize fire.”
” We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau, as well as some of our notable followers agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children are suffering unnecessarily; hence we resolved that we should bring this crisis to an end. We therefore called on all those that identify themselves with us and our course, to from today lay down their arms. Let every member who hears this announcement relay it to the next member who hasn’t heard.”
” We have met with the Borno state government on two occasions and the fallout of the meeting is to seize fire.”
” Presently we are going to comply with the seize fire order and by the time we are done with that, then government security agencies can go ahead to arrest whoever they find carrying arms or killing under our names. We are very much aware of the fact that some criminals have infiltrated our movement and continued attacking and killing people using our names.”
” We have also told the government to try to live up to our demands that our members in detention should be released. We hope the government will not betray us this time around, because we all know that it was because of the continued detentions of our members that this crisis continued for this long. And if government fails to do as it now promised, then this conflict will never have an end.”
” Of course there is a faction within us, but the larger faction of our movement is the one in support of this seize fire moves. Moreover, once top members of our group including Imam Abubakar Shekau are in support of the need for seizing fire, other smaller factions can be dealt with easily.”
“This message, by the Grace of Allah, comes directly from the office of Imam Abubakar Shekau, the supreme leader of Jamaatul ahlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad.”
In a swift reaction, the Special Adviser to the Borno state government on Communications Alhaji Isa Umar Gusau said.
“Well, I cannot speak on the matter. But what I know which you can also confirm as journalists that have followed the activities of the governor is that from the day he became a governor elect, even before he was sworn in, he was first to speak on the need for dialogue as the best way out. Governor Shettima has been very firm and consistent on his believe as he has regularly advocated, that unless we want to engage in an endless war, the best way out of the crisis is dialogue towards a peaceful resolution.”
” I can confirm to you that Governor Shettima has consistently been exploring different ways to establish means of negotiation for a fruitful dialogue to end the challenges. Anytime someone is killed be it a civilian, a security personnel of any member of the sect, Governor Shettima is deeply pained, he hates to hear that someone loses his or her, no matter who that person is. He believes that the life every Nigerian is worth preserving”.