The Federal Government is reportedly not taking seriously the fresh offer of negotiation reportedly being extended by members of terror sect Boko Haram.
The terrorist organization was quoted in the media on Thursday to have expressed a desire to engage the government in fresh negotiations.
The over 200 girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014 will be released in exchange for 16 key leaders of Boko Haram currently in custody of Nigerian security agents according to the reports.
Punch however reported that, the current thinking in government circle was that the offer could not be taken seriously since there had not been any direct communication with the sect leaders.
A Federal Government source told Punch on Thursday that the government would be cautious so as to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment the ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration suffered in a similar situation.
The government official recalled that the past administration on many occasions openly acknowledged engaging leaders of the sect in negotiation only for the process to end as a sham. The source was quoted to have said the present administration would rather err on the part of caution than be tainted by any negotiation deal that might go wrong.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, also said that the Federal Government was yet to receive any communication from the sect.
According to Punch, Adesina said, “They (the sect leaders) have not reached out to us. For us, the source of that information is not official. If they contact us formally, we shall reply them officially. For now, we have not heard from them and so we cannot be talking on this.”
Adesina had in a statement on Saturday said the government would not negotiate with the violent Islamic group from a point of weakness. He had said, “Most wars, however furious or vicious, often end around the negotiation table. “So, if Boko Haram opts for negotiation, the government will not be averse to it. Government will, however, not be negotiating from a position of weakness, but that of strength."
“The machinery put in place, and which will be set in motion soon, can only devastate and decapitate insurgency. It is multinational in nature, and relief is on the way for Nigeria and her neighbours."
He further added that “President Muhammadu Buhari is resolute. He has battled and won insurgency before; he is poised to win again. It is a promise he made to Nigerians, and he is a promise keeper.”
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