It was gathered on Monday that the Federal Government has
started a secrete 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 is 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 Islamist.
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". READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/66659.html
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