No Negotiation With ‘Boko Haram’ – SGF

The Federal Government has declared that it will not negotiate with the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who disclosed this during the inauguration of the presidential committee on security challenges in the North-East of the country, said that the committee is not to negotiate with the radical Islamic sect, as it is a fact finding team put together to identify solutions to their problems.

Senator Anyim said that the inauguration of the committee was  a fall-out of the meeting held by President Goodluck Jonathan with the elders of Borno State and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) leadership on the crisis in the zone.

He said that the situation was to create a forum that would give the elders and the public the opportunity to contribute towards finding solutions to the problem.

It is also to serve as a liaison between the Federal and the state governments, where necessary, and also liaise with the National Security Adviser to ensure that security agencies discharge their assignments optimally with professionalism.

The committee will consult with stakeholders from time to time for suggestions, and ascertain the true state of affairs as well as consider any other initiative that will serve to engender enduring peace and security in the area.

“The central purpose of the  committee is to create a forum whereby every person has suggestions on the way forward”.

The committee’s term of reference are to review all issues of security challenges in the zone and profer solution / recommendations for the speedy resolution of the crisis.

Members of the committee are Ambassador Usman Galtimori, Chairman, Abdullahi Shehu, Secretary, Senator Mohammed Ndume, Mr Joe Gadzoma (SAN) and retired Col Musa Shehu.

The rest are Senator Bala Mohammed, the FCT Minister, Dr Bello Mohammed, the Minster of Defence and Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour and Productivity.

In his response, Galtimori assured government that the committee would diligently address the grievances of all the parties, and make recommendations for quick resolution of the crisis.

He appealed to all the parties to accept the peace process, and assured the leadership of the Jamatul Ahlan Sunna Lid Dawati Wal Jihad that all their rights and privileges would be guaranteed, promising that nobody would be harrassed or molested.

Meanwhile, an early morning explosion occurred in Maiduguri, Borno State capital yesterday  at the junction of Gomari Airport Road.

Lt.-Col. Hassan Mohammed the Spokesman of the  Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) told newsmen in Maiduguri that the explosion occurred about 7.13 a.m.

He said: “Yes, there was an explosion at the junction of Gomari around 7.13 a.m. after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED),  was detonated by suspected Boko Haram sect members.

“The device was buried under the concrete pavement of the highway by the perpetrators.”

He said that the explosion did not result in any casualty as it occurred on the main road.

He said that contrary to the belief in some quarters that the military was involved in planting some of the bombs in the city, it had no hand in the crime.

“It is not true that our men were involved in planting bombs. This is actually a false propaganda by the Boko Haram sect members who are frustrated by the military.

“The military bombs are well known because they are quite distinct from the locally made ones used by the Boko Haram sect,” he said.

He however, admitted that there might be one or two casualties after a blast following fire exchanges between the JTF and the sect members.

“Usually the Boko Haram sect members begin to fire immediately after an explosion. Their idea is to attract the JTF to the scene and attack them as soon as possible. But the military is always prepared and we engage them in a cross exchange of fire,” Mohammed said.

He lamented that since both the military and the sect members used the same kind of weapons it was difficult for the people to distinguish between the two.

“Our soldiers are well trained in marksmanship so it will be difficult for them to miss their target and attack civilians. “But the Boko Haram members are not well trained. They are responsible for the killings of civilians and not soldiers,” Mohammed said.

Cross section of lawmakers votig in support of the clearance of the commissioner-nominees during their screening at the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga