NIGERIA: Boko Haram Declares Ceasefire

After about three years of attacks on security formations, public and worship places, the Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram, on Monday agreed to cease-fire.

The organisation’s Second Commander (southern and northern Borno), Muhammed Abdulaziz, in a statement, cited dialogue with the Borno State Government as reason.

 “I am announcing this ceasefire with the approval and consent of the leader Sheikh Abubakar Shekau. We, therefore, call on all our members to stop all acts of violent immediately and await further directives,” said Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who introduced himself as the second in command to Mr. Shekau.

Reports say the group declared the ceasefire in Maiduguri at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday.

But the Federal Government, in a swift reaction, said it would not make a formal pronouncement yet on the ceasefire.

Abdulaziz, who was said to have been in company with another top member of the sect while reading the statement, did not say when the dialogue with the Borno State Government took place.

Assuring that the group was serious about the ceasefire, Abdulaziz said security agencies could, once the ceasefire is fine-tuned, go ahead and arrest anyone that violates it.

The statement reads: “I, Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, is the 2nd Commander- in-charge of southern and northern Borno after Imam Abubakar Shekau of Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram.

“For sometime now, we the members of Jamaatul ahlil Boko Haram sunna lidawati wal jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram have recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of Borno State where we resolved that given the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to cease fire.

“We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau, as well as some of our notable followers agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children are suffering unnecessarily; hence we resolved that we should bring this crisis to an end.

“We therefore call on all those that identify themselves with us and our cause, to from today (Monday) lay down their arms. Let every member who hears this announcement relay it to the next member who hasn’t heard.

“We have met with the Borno State Government on two occasions and the fallout of the meeting was to cease fire. Presently, we are going to comply with the ceasefire order and by the time we are done with that, then security agencies could go ahead and arrest whomever they find carrying arms or killing under our name. We are very much aware of the fact that some criminals have infiltrated our movement and continued attacking and killing people using our name.

“Of course, there is a faction within us, but the larger faction of our movement is the one in support of this ceasefire move. Moreover, once top members of our group, including Imam Abubakar Shekau, are in support of the need for ceasefire, other smaller factions can be dealt with easily.

“This message, by the Grace of Allah, comes directly from the office of Imam Abubakar Shekau, the supreme leader of Jamaatul ahlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad.”

But the Federal Government said it would properly study the conditions (if any) for the ceasefire before a decision and pronouncement could be made on it.

A top Presidency official, who pleaded anonymity, said, “From our experience, the sect is not reliable and their words cannot be taken at face value.

“All facets of governmental apparatus would be consulted before a final decision would be taken on the matter. We are not in a hurry to jump at their offer.

He added that while government was committed to dialogue, it would not negotiate with any group on a position of weakness.

Sect To Surrender Arms

Sheik Abdul Aziz urged the Joint Task Force and other security agents to reciprocate the ceasefire announcement as it takes immediate effect.

On the mode of the ceasefire, the second in command said talks with government officials on how to surrender the arms are also on-going and urged members of the sect nationwide to cooperate fully.

The sect has earlier announced ceasefire with many stiff conditions in the recent past as security and government officials rejected such conditions.

Reasons And Conditions For Ceasefire

He said the adoption of the ceasefire is because of the hardships women and children are subjected to and urged members to abide by the directive of the ceasefire and to extend it to others yet to be aware of the development.

He also demanded that detained members of the sect be released and the destroyed mosque of its late leader, Mohammed Yusuf, rebuilt as a condition for the ceasefire.