News
Boko Haram Denies Talks With FG …Disowns Saudi Arabia Mediators
Nigerian Islamist sect, Boko Haram, yesterday ruled out
holding peace talks with the Federal Government and threatened to strike media
houses it said fight the group “with the pen”.
The local press, and at least, two foreign news
organizations, have reported that talks are going on between the government and
the militants who have been staging an insurgency against it, citing unnamed
sources.
Information Minister, Labaran Maku, declined comments on
Wednesday on the talks, citing government’s instructions not to discuss the
issue.
Since launching an insurgency against the government in 2009
with the avowed aim of turning all or part of religiously-mixed Nigeria into an
Islamic state, Boko Haram has killed hundreds of people in near daily gun and
bomb attacks.
“We are telling the government to understand that if it is
not ready to embrace Sharia (Islamic law) and the Koran as the guiding book
from which the laws of the land derive, there shall be no peace,” the sect’s
spokesman, Abu Qaqa said in a written statement in the Borno State capital,
Maiduguri, the heart of the rebellion.
Boko Haram has replaced militancy in the creeks of the
oil-producing Niger Delta as the biggest security threat to Nigeria, Africa’s
top energy producer.
A flurry of efforts to start talks followed accusations
early this year that President Goodluck Jonathan was treating the crisis too
narrowly as a security issue.
But attempts at dialogue are complicated by Boko Haram’s
shadowy nature and the fact that there sometimes appears to be more than one
faction.
The main one, led by Abubakar Shekau, has never shown any
overt interest in dialogue.
Qaqa also threatened media houses, recalling the sect’s dual
bomb attack media houses in Abuja and Kaduna in April that killed five people.
“They should understand that for us there is no difference
between those fighting with arms and with the pen,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has confirmed that it is
in dialogue with Boko Haram, the militant Islamist group notorious for terror
attacks against Christians and others across the country’s restive north.
The dialogue began this month with a secret meeting between
Boko Haram’s deputy leader, Abu Mohammed, and Nigeria’s Vice President Namadi
Sambo, Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, and other top government officials. The
meeting was held in Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed confirmed the talks after they were first announced
by the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Wednesday.
“The government is willing to negotiate because of the
security challenges posed by the group who are attacking security formations,
universities, and other government formations,” said Mr. Maku.
“The government welcomes any initiative that will usher in
peace, security, and tranquility in the country, especially in the light of the
security challenges that we have faced in the last two years.”
This marks the second time the government and Boko Haram
have engaged in talks. The first dialogue broke off because the federal
government could not accept the mediators. This time, the announcement has been
met with optimism in the conflict-weary North.
“Virtually all people of the northern Nigeria are optimistic
with dialogue. These security challenges cause a lot of fear, loss of hope, and
anxiety among the people because the affected states were in serious
destruction by the Boko Haram,” says Abba Anwar, an analyst based in the
northern city of Kano.
“I pray and hope that
the Federal Government will look into their grievances and find out modalities
to address them for the interest of the teeming people who are suffering from
these security challenges.”
The group’s official name in Arabic translates to “People
Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad,” while its
common name means “Western education is a sin.” The group’s stated goal is to
overthrow Nigeria’s secular government and institute sharia law, at least in
the predominantly Muslim north.
In these talks, Boko Haram is seeking release of all their
members in detention, the rebuilding of mosques destroyed in the fighting, and
the prosecution of those who killed their former leader Mohammed Yusuf,
according to a source at the secret meeting who was not authorized to speak.
The Federal Government finds itself under mounting pressure
to show progress in shutting down the violent rebellion unleashed by Boko Haram
since 2009 that has left thousands dead. So far, the military efforts against
the group have done little to slow the killing spree.
While Boko Haram has attacked churches filled with
worshipers, Muslims have also been targeted by the group. Some celebrations of
the Muslim holiday of Eid were canceled in northern areas including Kano
because of the threat of Boko Haram attacks. At a mosque in Maiduguri, Muslims
attending Eid prayers were allowed near with just their prayer mats; vehicles
were directed to park 200 yards away from the praying ground due to fears of
bombing and attack by Boko Haram.
“Nigeria’s security [forces] are seriously worried with
these challenges, though we are succeeding in dealing with them. But our hope
is to dialogue with them Boko Haram because it’s like a guerrilla war, we are
fighting faceless people who at any time attack and kill our people,” says John
Shehu, a security official in Kano.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.