Boko Haram initiates moves for dialogue – CCC

Against the backdrop of President Muhammadu Buhari’s vow that Boko Haram insurgency will be brought to an end by December this year and his recent statement in the U.S. that he is open to dialogue from genuine members of the group, members of the terrorists group have contacted the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) to initiate a dialogue process with the federal government on their behalf.

Towards this end, the members have made several calls to the Centre claiming that hundreds of their members who were tired and have contrary opinions with the destructive and murderous activities of the terrorist organization are willing to lay down their arms.

Making the disclosure in Abuja Tuesday, Executive Secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), said, “The efforts by some members of the group to get across to the Centre and the discussions we have had, have been encouraging. We have taken measures also to ascertain the genuineness or otherwise of these persons. We believe they are ready for genuine dialogue. However, discussions are still ongoing and nothing concrete has been arrived at, but it is an opportunity to interact with what I call insiders in the Boko Haram group”.

Commodore Anas also spoke on sundry national issues including terrorism, cattle rustling, National Assembly crisis, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping, armed robbery, Radio Biafra among others said he and his team were already in the process of facilitating a meeting with relevant government agencies.

His words, “The Boko Haram challenges have continued to become an intractable crisis situation to our nation. Recently, Governor Kashim Shetima of Borno Stated that ‘more than 3million innocent Nigerians from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and other parts of Nigeria live in deep agony, having lost their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, relations and neighbours after being brutally attacked by members of the Boko Haram”.

“Some prominent Nigerians have in recent times canvassed the idea of dialogue with the Boko Haram. The option of dialogue according to them, at the moment provides a leeway of not only safely rescuing the abducted Chibok School Girls alive but also possibly bringing to an end, the orgy of violence unleashed on innocent Nigerians by the group”.

“Considering the unspeakable atrocities which the group has visited on Nigeria and Nigerians, this option is no doubt a hard sell. However, the recent statement of President Muhammadu Buhari on government’s readiness to negotiate with credible members of the sect has rekindled hope for dialogue”.

The Centre views this gesture as good because it has opened a window of opportunity for dialogue for these insurgents that are willing and ready to lay down their arms. This position is predicated on calls made to the Centre by some members of the Boko Haram requesting for genuine and comprehensive dialogue that could lead to hundreds of them coming out to renounce their membership”.

Towards this end, Commodore Anas said, “From discussions held so far, the members seem to be speaking on behalf of a cross section of the group. They expressed willingness to come forward to make certain proposals on behalf of other members of the group. If we pursue this line, I believe something positive will come out”.

“The Centre however suggests that such dialogue should be done with every sense of caution and responsibility bearing in mind the previous disappointments that attended attempts at negotiations.

On the crisis in the National Assembly, Anas said, “The Centre has noted the considerable progress made at arriving at an amicable resolution of the National Assembly leadership crisis. However, the Centre is aware of underground moves to still truncate the current compromises that were reached”.

“Knowing how far-reaching and negative, effect of political crisis of this dimension could continue to be in inflaming passions, creating divisive tendencies and ultimately translating to crisis, we are appealing to all the contending individuals, groups or parties to ‘shield their swords’ in the national interest”.

“The Centre also uses the opportunity to call on our dear members of the National Assembly to similarly emulate the gesture of Mr. President by also slashing their salaries to demonstrate to Nigerians that they are also sympathetic to the current financial challenges of the nation and are ready to make sacrifices to make Nigeria better” he concluded.