IBB Lends His Support To Government's Negotiation With Boko Haram

At a media parley on Monday in Minna, Niger State, organised to commemorate his 74th birthday anniversary, retired General Ibrahim Babangida said there was nothing wrong with the Federal Government reaching a peace deal with the Boko Haram insurgents.

He also commended the

efforts by the present administration to tackle insurgency in the north-east and expressed confidence in the capacity of the Federal Government to win the war against terrorism.

On August 8, the Nigerian government said it was ready to negotiate with the Boko Haram insurgents if the true leaders of the group could be identified and properly represented.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, gave the government’s position at a dinner in Abuja.

He said the government could not afford to negotiate with anybody masquerading as the leader of the group and in the end, collect money from government fraudulently.

The government’s statement has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians, with some saying the government should not negotiate with a terrorist group, suggesting that security forces should tackle the group.

There have been counter-terrorism operations in the north-east for over five years, but the terrorist group of late resorted to suicide bombing, attacking soft targets.

During his campaign, President Muhammadu Buhari had promised to end insurgency as soon as possible if voted into office.

Since he became President, the terrorist group has killed over 1,000 persons in different attacks in north-east, north-central and north-wast regions. However, President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his commitment to the fight against insurgency as earlier last week; he issued a three-month ultimatum to Service Chiefs to end the insurgency in the north-east.