“I can confirm to you that talks are ongoing at the background. But the talks are not the kinds being envisaged by Nigerians,” the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, told our correspondent in Abuja.
Abati added, “I know that some Nigerians are expecting that a venue should be chosen and a banner will be placed there indicating that the Federal Government is holding dialogue with the group there.
“That is not the kind of talks we are talking about here. The ongoing talk is a back channel one in which those who know members of the group are talking with them on behalf of the government.”
Boko Haram which has been prosecuting a bombing campaign against the Nigerian state recently gave conditions for ceasefire and talks with the government.
The sect, among others asked for compensation for its killed members; that its demolished mosque be rebuilt; that its members in custody be released; and that the dialogue venue should be in Saudi Arabia.
It spoke through Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, the second-in-command to its leader, Abubakar Shekau.
Abdulaziz named a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari; Dr. Shettima Monguno; a former Yobe State Governor, Bukar Ibrahim; Ambassador Gaji Galtimari; and Aisha Alkali Wakil, and her husband, Alkali as “trusted” Nigerians it would be ready to negotiate with.
Buhari has since rejected the offer.
Meanwhile, The PUNCH checks have revealed that the Federal Government is at the crossroads on how to hold a successful dialogue with the sect which is said to have been factionalised. But it was learnt that the President had ruled out dialogue with Boko Haram in Saudi Arabia.
A top security source told our correspondent that, “While it is true that the government is reaching out to the sect, the fact that there are various factions of the group is bringing confusion.
“There is concern that the dialogue may not yield the desired result. Even now, attacks are going on in spite of the peace moves by the group.”
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