Boko Haram: Amnesty panel shows 'peace talks video'
The Presidential Committee on Dialogue and
Resolution of Security Challenges in the
North on Friday released a video clip of what
it described as a meeting with some leaders
of the Boko Haram sect. The committee also
said the men were close associates of Boko
Haram, Abubakar Shekau.
The 30-minute video was played to State
House correspondents inside the Banquet
Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The
committee holds its meetings in the hall.
In the clip, some men identified by the
committee as members of the highest
decision-making body of Boko Haram, the
Shura, were heard speaking in Arabic and
Hausa.
In the video clip, a man described as the
spokesman of the sect, Muhammd Lawan Dn
Suliaman, was seen with three other men
identified as Abdul-Auza'i, Al-Darnawo and
Al-Maliki.
Although Suliaman read his remarks in
Arabic, his words were subtitled in English.
He said it was permissible to reach a peace
accord and lay down arms according to
Allah's injunction in Quran Chapter 8:61.
The men explained that the decision to take
part in the negotiation was based on three
things: the tenets of Islam, the teachings of
Prophet Muhammed and the writings of
eminent Islamic scholars and jurists.
However, the authenticity of the video clip
could not be independently confirmed by
Saturday PUNCH and a copy was not
released to our correspondent. The
committee did not also tell newsmen where
the meeting held and when.
But a statement issued by government and
said to be the full transcription of the
remarks made by Suliaman revealed that the
meeting might have taking place in a prison
where the men were held.
The statement reads, "We are indeed
surprised with the visit paid to us by a
dialogue committee set up by the Federal
Government of Nigeria.
More surprised, the committee met us in
prison custody and explained to us reason
for their visit and also asked four
fundamental questions.
"Firstly, is it possible to dialogue and reach a
peaceful resolution of the conflict between
our brothers and the Federal Government
who are engaged in fighting? Secondly,
which way is the dialogue going to follow?
Thirdly, which assistance those of us in
detention would give in realisation of that?
Fourthly, what assistance do the detainees
need to facilitate the dialogue?"
However, the Chairman of the Committee,
Kabiru Turaki, told journalists that his
committee decided to make the two-week-
old video clip public in order to prove to
Nigerians that indeed the government team
had established contact with the sect. He
added that the committee had succeeded in
gaining the confidence of the sect's leaders.
The Minister of Special Duties said
government hoped that the members of the
sect, whom he described as "field officers",
would see the need to embrace dialogue
after "watching and listening to their
leaders."
He said, "It is incumbent on all true Muslims
to accept dialogue. They (Shura members)
have called on their members and Muslims
to give peace a chance.
"We need to build confidence to open a line
of communication. When we build on
dialogue, we will get to the next stage of
total ceasefire. We have not got to that level
yet. No conditions have been finalised."
Turaki, however, disclosed that the
committee was still making efforts towards
meeting another set of senior leaders of the
group, and a splinter group, Ansaru.
He also said he could not get the military
operatives in Borno State to confirm the
death of the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar
Shekau.
Turaki admitted that there was no clear
connection between the Shura committee
and the second-in-command with whom
government reportedly secured an earlier
peace deal, or with Shekau who is yet to be
personally reached.
He further explained that his committee had
no mandate to pay compensation to the
victims of Boko Haram, but would advise
government on how to bring "succour" to
them.
Responding on Friday, the pan-northern
socio-political organisation, Arewa
Consultative Forum, lauded the amnesty
committee's efforts. But the Christian
Association of Nigeria in a swift reaction on
Friday, expressed doubts over the video
clips.
The National Publicity Secretary, ACF, Mr.
Anthony Sani, commended what he
described as the "carrot-and-stick
approach" of the Federal Government.
Resolution of Security Challenges in the
North on Friday released a video clip of what
it described as a meeting with some leaders
of the Boko Haram sect. The committee also
said the men were close associates of Boko
Haram, Abubakar Shekau.
The 30-minute video was played to State
House correspondents inside the Banquet
Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The
committee holds its meetings in the hall.
In the clip, some men identified by the
committee as members of the highest
decision-making body of Boko Haram, the
Shura, were heard speaking in Arabic and
Hausa.
In the video clip, a man described as the
spokesman of the sect, Muhammd Lawan Dn
Suliaman, was seen with three other men
identified as Abdul-Auza'i, Al-Darnawo and
Al-Maliki.
Although Suliaman read his remarks in
Arabic, his words were subtitled in English.
He said it was permissible to reach a peace
accord and lay down arms according to
Allah's injunction in Quran Chapter 8:61.
The men explained that the decision to take
part in the negotiation was based on three
things: the tenets of Islam, the teachings of
Prophet Muhammed and the writings of
eminent Islamic scholars and jurists.
However, the authenticity of the video clip
could not be independently confirmed by
Saturday PUNCH and a copy was not
released to our correspondent. The
committee did not also tell newsmen where
the meeting held and when.
But a statement issued by government and
said to be the full transcription of the
remarks made by Suliaman revealed that the
meeting might have taking place in a prison
where the men were held.
The statement reads, "We are indeed
surprised with the visit paid to us by a
dialogue committee set up by the Federal
Government of Nigeria.
More surprised, the committee met us in
prison custody and explained to us reason
for their visit and also asked four
fundamental questions.
"Firstly, is it possible to dialogue and reach a
peaceful resolution of the conflict between
our brothers and the Federal Government
who are engaged in fighting? Secondly,
which way is the dialogue going to follow?
Thirdly, which assistance those of us in
detention would give in realisation of that?
Fourthly, what assistance do the detainees
need to facilitate the dialogue?"
However, the Chairman of the Committee,
Kabiru Turaki, told journalists that his
committee decided to make the two-week-
old video clip public in order to prove to
Nigerians that indeed the government team
had established contact with the sect. He
added that the committee had succeeded in
gaining the confidence of the sect's leaders.
The Minister of Special Duties said
government hoped that the members of the
sect, whom he described as "field officers",
would see the need to embrace dialogue
after "watching and listening to their
leaders."
He said, "It is incumbent on all true Muslims
to accept dialogue. They (Shura members)
have called on their members and Muslims
to give peace a chance.
"We need to build confidence to open a line
of communication. When we build on
dialogue, we will get to the next stage of
total ceasefire. We have not got to that level
yet. No conditions have been finalised."
Turaki, however, disclosed that the
committee was still making efforts towards
meeting another set of senior leaders of the
group, and a splinter group, Ansaru.
He also said he could not get the military
operatives in Borno State to confirm the
death of the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar
Shekau.
Turaki admitted that there was no clear
connection between the Shura committee
and the second-in-command with whom
government reportedly secured an earlier
peace deal, or with Shekau who is yet to be
personally reached.
He further explained that his committee had
no mandate to pay compensation to the
victims of Boko Haram, but would advise
government on how to bring "succour" to
them.
Responding on Friday, the pan-northern
socio-political organisation, Arewa
Consultative Forum, lauded the amnesty
committee's efforts. But the Christian
Association of Nigeria in a swift reaction on
Friday, expressed doubts over the video
clips.
The National Publicity Secretary, ACF, Mr.
Anthony Sani, commended what he
described as the "carrot-and-stick
approach" of the Federal Government.
0 comments: