Boko Haram gives condition for dialogue

•Kills 3 in BornoFrom TIMOTHY OLA, Maiduguri
Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Photo: Sun News Publishing

Members of the Boko Haram, yesterday gave conditions for negotiations with the Federal Government. The Islamist sect insisted that the release of its detained members remained the first condition for dialogue. The pronouncement came even as three people were killed in renewed attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State, yesterday.

Restating its position for negotiation with government, spokesman for the sect, Abu Qaqa said in a statement, “our position remains the establishment of Shariah Law in all Muslim states in Nigeria. But as a temporary measure for peace, we will accept to talk with government only when all our members in captivity all over the states are released.“

He added that the sect had the records of its members arrested either by the police, the State Security Service (SSS) or other security agencies.
Qaqa also pointed out that the group did not have any other motive than the entrenchment of Islamic law in Nigeria.

He however, faulted the claim of the Gaji Galtimari-led Federal Government Committee on Security Challenges in the Northeast that Boko Haram is ready to dialogue with government. “We only heard the story in the media, nobody contacted us throughout the sitting of the committee.

“So, it is wrong for them to recommend dialogue with us when they did not make any effort to meet with us. The idea of appointing the Sultan of Sokoto as a mediator between us and the government is also not acceptable to us because the Sultan is not the authentic Muslim leader in Nigeria.”
Boko Haram members killed a patent medicine shop owner and two others in broad daylight. The serial attacks occurred at Zajuri Ward, Baga Road.

Yesterday’s renewed attacks brought to four, the numbers of persons killed within three days in what residents described as renewed attacks on the metropolis by the Boko Haram men. Two people were killed on Saturday while the nation celebrated her 51 years of independence. A hotelier and his salesman were earlier killed on September 19 while a lawyer, one Alkali Yusuf was mowed down two days later.   

Daily Sun learnt that men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) who arrived the scene of the killings a few minutes later condoned off the popular Baga Market as well as the timber shed along Baga Road. The affected areas were yet to be reopened as at Press time.
The gunmen were said to have stormed the area, reputed to be one of the flash points of Boko Haram activities at about 10 a.m. and headed to the tea-shop where the tea- seller and another person were shot dead. Thereafter, the gunmen reportedly fired several shots into the air to scare residents as they escaped from the area.

“We didn’t know when they arrived the scene and I cannot say precisely whether they came in a car but I just heard gunshots and everybody lied down. There sporadic gunshots continued until about 15 minutes later when I learnt two people have been killed,” a resident told Daily Sun on the condition of anonymity.
A military officer confirmed the incident even as he appealed to the media to play down the Boko Haram issue “for security reasons.”

However, JTF spokesman, Lt Col Hassan Mohammed feigned ignorance of the incident when contacted on phone, insisting that he was unaware of the attacks.
He said he only learnt that something happened somewhere and had just sent his men to get the report. “We heard that something happened somewhere and I have just sent out my men to go and find out,” he said.      
The Commissioner of Police, Simeon Midenda also told Daily Sun that he was yet to receive any report on the incident. “I haven’t got the report, I’m just hearing from you now. I will find out,” he promised. The state had enjoined relative peace in the last one month but resident feared the recent renew of attacks by serial killers on civilians has brought back the day of daylight killings in a manner that appear to defy all solutions.

SOURCE: The Sun Newspape, 4 October 2011.http://sunnewsonline.com