Boko Haram Elements Reach Out for Dialogue - CCC

Premium Times: Some members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, have started reaching out for dialogue with the Nigerian government, Centre for Crisis Communication said on Tuesday.

The centre is a non-governmental and independent agency actively involved in research works and publications that could help harmonize and provide information on crisis management in the Nigeria.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the executive secretary of the centre, Yusuf Anas, said some of the terrorists have made calls to the CCC requesting genuine and comprehensive dialogue with the Nigerian government.

Mr. Anas, a retired air commodore, said calls to the centre by the militants started flowing after President Muhammadu Buhari said that the federal government was ready to negotiate with credible members of the group.

He said Mr. Buhari’s statement could lead to the renouncing of membership of Boko Haram, by hundreds of the insurgents.

“The Centre views this gesture as good. It has opened a window of opportunity for dialogue for those insurgents that are willing and ready to lay down their arms,” Mr. Anas said.

The retired air commodore however added that the centre also suggested that such dialogue be done with every sense of caution and responsibility, bearing in mind the previous disappointments the country faced in its efforts to negotiate with some elements of the group.

He said, “Nevertheless, the Centre will continue to support and encourage all efforts towards bringing insurgency to an end in our country.”

Mr. Anas said the option of dialogue is no doubt a hard sale as suggested by many prominent Nigerians.

However, he said dialogue can lead to the safe rescue of the abducted Chibok school girls, and also possibly bring the orgy of violence to an end.

He also added that although successes have been recorded in degrading the terrorists, the insurgency was far from over.