The Federal Government said yesterday that it
is willing to accept the ceasefire offer of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna
Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, also called as Boko Haram, and grant amnesty to members
of the sect if their leader Sheikh Abubakar Shekau publicly renounces violence.
is willing to accept the ceasefire offer of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna
Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, also called as Boko Haram, and grant amnesty to members
of the sect if their leader Sheikh Abubakar Shekau publicly renounces violence.
National Coordinator of the Counterterrorism
Centre retired Major General Sarkin-Yaki Bello disclosed this at an interactive
session with top US military (Capstone course) personnel led by Admiral (rtd)
Henry Chiles at the National Defence College Abuja.
Centre retired Major General Sarkin-Yaki Bello disclosed this at an interactive
session with top US military (Capstone course) personnel led by Admiral (rtd)
Henry Chiles at the National Defence College Abuja.
He said government is prepared to accommodate
members of the group in a rehabilitation programme being proposed, but Shekau
must come out through the medium he has been using, Youtube, to renounce
violence as a precondition.
members of the group in a rehabilitation programme being proposed, but Shekau
must come out through the medium he has been using, Youtube, to renounce
violence as a precondition.
“Government is also working to ensure that an
opportunity will be created to embrace extremists who renounce terrorism to
come forward for rehabilitation,” he said.
opportunity will be created to embrace extremists who renounce terrorism to
come forward for rehabilitation,” he said.
General Bello also said government is prepared
to meet the demands put forward by the group which included the release of its
members in detention; the rebuilding of its mosque (Markas) which was destroyed
by a military operation in Maiduguri in 2009 and allowing sect members to
practice their religious beliefs freely.
to meet the demands put forward by the group which included the release of its
members in detention; the rebuilding of its mosque (Markas) which was destroyed
by a military operation in Maiduguri in 2009 and allowing sect members to
practice their religious beliefs freely.
Boko Haram commander who acknowledged himself
as Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris told reporters in Maiduguri last month
that following consultations with some individuals and groups, the sect had
decided to halt its three years old insurgency.
as Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris told reporters in Maiduguri last month
that following consultations with some individuals and groups, the sect had
decided to halt its three years old insurgency.
Since the declaration, there have been incidences
of attacks in many parts of the north, but the group has not come out to claim
responsibility as it was the practice.
of attacks in many parts of the north, but the group has not come out to claim
responsibility as it was the practice.
Shekau is one of three members of the group on
United States’ terror list. Sometime last year, the Joint Task Force claimed
that it injured him in one of the major attacks it launched on the group in
Damaturu, Yobe State.
United States’ terror list. Sometime last year, the Joint Task Force claimed
that it injured him in one of the major attacks it launched on the group in
Damaturu, Yobe State.
This is the first time that the federal
government is making a public commitment, involving Shakau in the quest to
resolve the conflict which has claimed thousands of people since 2009.
government is making a public commitment, involving Shakau in the quest to
resolve the conflict which has claimed thousands of people since 2009.
General Bello said government will adopt some
socio-economic measures to address extremism in the north and members of the
sect who renounce violence will be granted amnesty.
socio-economic measures to address extremism in the north and members of the
sect who renounce violence will be granted amnesty.
He noted that since the high unemployment
rate, especially in the north is a major multiplier of terrorism in the region,
“the federal government in conjunction with state governments will soon
officially launch a coordinated programme aimed at addressing unemployment in
the region.”
rate, especially in the north is a major multiplier of terrorism in the region,
“the federal government in conjunction with state governments will soon
officially launch a coordinated programme aimed at addressing unemployment in
the region.”
“This will help reduce the pool of recruit for
the Boko Haram sect. Additionally to this, the federal government will reform
and regulate the hitherto unregulated Madrasa schools, popularly called the
Almajiri system of education that has prevailed in the northern part of the
country.
the Boko Haram sect. Additionally to this, the federal government will reform
and regulate the hitherto unregulated Madrasa schools, popularly called the
Almajiri system of education that has prevailed in the northern part of the
country.
General Bello said Nigeria is collaborating
with other neighbouring countries to prevent terror attacks. He said a number
of foreign nationals were identified as Boko Haram members.
with other neighbouring countries to prevent terror attacks. He said a number
of foreign nationals were identified as Boko Haram members.
“We have citizens of Niger Republic who are
members of Boko Haram we have Chadians; we have Cameroonians as member,” he
said.
members of Boko Haram we have Chadians; we have Cameroonians as member,” he
said.
According to him, the federal government has
long realised that Boko Haram has affiliation with Mali, and to solve the
problem, the umbilical cord between the sect and the other groups in northern
Mali needs to be cut.
long realised that Boko Haram has affiliation with Mali, and to solve the
problem, the umbilical cord between the sect and the other groups in northern
Mali needs to be cut.
He also said the sect got arms from Libya
after the fall of Gaddafi regime.
after the fall of Gaddafi regime.
“The major source of arms for Boko Haram comes
from Libya through Chad,” he said, point out that the federal government has
evolved approaches to deal with the problem.
from Libya through Chad,” he said, point out that the federal government has
evolved approaches to deal with the problem.
He said Boko Haram attacks, maritime
insecurity and kidnapping are the major security challenges facing the country.
insecurity and kidnapping are the major security challenges facing the country.
But he emphasised that Boko Haram is the most
dangerous because “its members live within the society and its difficult to
spot them.”
dangerous because “its members live within the society and its difficult to
spot them.”
“The sect has grown in sophistication from
when it emerges in 2009 and is now capable of carrying out coordinated attacks
in many cities in northern Nigeria.
when it emerges in 2009 and is now capable of carrying out coordinated attacks
in many cities in northern Nigeria.
He said Nigerian security forces have had to
review their tactics and modus operandi to address the new security challenges,
adding that security forces operations will now be aligned to suit overall
government effort to eradicated terrorism.
review their tactics and modus operandi to address the new security challenges,
adding that security forces operations will now be aligned to suit overall
government effort to eradicated terrorism.
“In conjunction with other stakeholders, a
draft National Counter Terrorism Strategy which will soon be approved by our
president has been produced. The idea is to have an all embracing approach
toward handling counter terrorism issues.
draft National Counter Terrorism Strategy which will soon be approved by our
president has been produced. The idea is to have an all embracing approach
toward handling counter terrorism issues.
“Other measures include advance plan to
set up National Counter Terrorism Centre which further ensure coordination and
synergy among all agencies. A Fusion Centre will be a key component of Counter
Terrorism Centre which will serve as a processing point for all source of
intelligence, he added.”
set up National Counter Terrorism Centre which further ensure coordination and
synergy among all agencies. A Fusion Centre will be a key component of Counter
Terrorism Centre which will serve as a processing point for all source of
intelligence, he added.”
General Bello said Boko Haram’s capacity has
been weakened substantially.
been weakened substantially.
“In the last few months, the security forces
have been able to strategically degrade the leadership of the Boko Haram sect;
this has considerably reduced the capacity of the sect to undertake coordinated
large scale attacks, unlike in the past. We are working assiduously to maintain
the tempo of our effort in order to sustain gains that have been made,” he
said.
have been able to strategically degrade the leadership of the Boko Haram sect;
this has considerably reduced the capacity of the sect to undertake coordinated
large scale attacks, unlike in the past. We are working assiduously to maintain
the tempo of our effort in order to sustain gains that have been made,” he
said.
Speaking at the event, Commandant of the
National Defence College Rear Admiral Thomas Lokoson said the US team was in
the College to acquire leadership skills at the strategic level.
National Defence College Rear Admiral Thomas Lokoson said the US team was in
the College to acquire leadership skills at the strategic level.
Source: Daily Trust
