The Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenges in the North has said that the
Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, is involved in the current ceasefire deal. The chairman of the committee and Special Duties Minister, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, who disclosed this to State House correspondents in Abuja after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, said though the ceasefire was not declared in a video, it could be relied on as his committee had been discussing with the right leadership of the sect. According to him, “When a minister speaks on behalf
of the federal government, you wouldn’t say you must see the president or the vice president there. We’ve spoken with somebody who is second in command as far as Boko Haram is concerned, and he has informed the media that he has been
discussing with us with full knowledge and authority of Imam Abubakar Shekau. So, we’ve no cause to doubt him. We’ve done checks on him just as they (the sect) have done checks on us also, and we’ve realised that yes, we’re dealing with the proper people and with the proper leadership of the organization”. Assuring that all Nigerians would be privy to a
ceasefire agreement that would be signed in due course, Turaki said: “We’re still working on the framework where we’ll sign an agreement and we’ll make that public. Wherever and whenever we agree on the time and place, the international
and local media as well as all Nigerians will be privy to it.” He said the terms of the ceasefire agreement were still being worked on and the broader framework being discussed, after which Nigerians would be duly informed. Speaking further, Turaki said the sect opted for ceasefire having been convinced that the committee was not out to set a trap for them. The sect, he added, also considered the Ramadan period and deemed it fit to give peace a chance. The minister, however, said despite the declaration and announcement of ceasefire, the ongoing emergency rule in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States
have to remain. Turaki, who noted that his committee was also aware of another terrorist group, Ansaru, said: “...and we’re
also making efforts by the special grace of God. I’ll still urge all Nigerians to continue to pray for us like they’ve been doing. I think it’s the result of their prayer that has given us this mileage that we’ve achieved. So, we’re on it, we’re not relenting as a committee. With the support of Nigerians, we’ll also get to that point very soon
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