Boko Haram Denies Dialogue With Gov’t-PREMIUM TIMES

Abubakar Shekau

 The leadership of Jamaatu ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, has again, denied engaging in talks with the Nigerian government, contrary to widespread reports that the sect had re- entered into dialogue with the government.
The group made this denial in an email to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday evening.
The sect not only denied talks with the government, but also described the purported press statement by one Abu Muhammad, who claimed to be the second in Command to the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, as the creation of the media.
The sect said its position on dialogue was made clear in a recent video address by its leader, where Mr. Shekau foreclosed any possibility of dialogue with the government, but which it said many media houses ignored, but were quick to publicise the “purported Meccah meeting”.
The sect recalled that it was because of such misrepresentations by the media that it attacked Thisday Newspaper, adding that as far as it is concerned, “those who fight us with guns and those who use pen are one and the same”.
The sect also said it is aware that many people were using its name to get huge sums of money under the pretext that they would “arrange dialogue with us”.
It called on such fake intermediaries to “fear Allah before they get into the hands of Allah’s army”.
In the statement, the sect said since the Federal Government “lured and arrested one of our leaders, Abu Darda who was sent to dialogue on our behalf and also frustrated the one facilitated by a journalist, Ahmad Salkida and headed by Dr. Ibrahim Datti, we have foreclosed any possibility of talks with the government”.
The group says it is aware Mr. Datti had entered into a fresh round of talks with the government.
It therefore warned Mr. Datti to “respect his age and desist forth with”.
The sect added that the only guarantee to peace is the full implementation of Sharia in Nigeria.
“As long as the government has not put aside the constitution and embrace the Holy Quran as the final law in the land, government should stop dreaming of peace because we will never stop fighting,” it said.

"Boko Haram Is on the Run in Maiduguri," Says JTF Spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa

JTF spokesperson for the NortheastLt. Col Musa Sagir

The spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF) fighting to contain the Boko Haram insurgence has assured Nigerians that his force will soon defeat Boko Haram. In an exclusive interview with SaharaTV’s Omoyele Sowore, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa said, “Here in Maiduguri, members of Boko Haram are on the run. They are on the run.”
Lt. Colonel Musa spoke about the JTF intelligence and operations capabilities. He stated, “Much is being done and we are getting closer unto to them. We are arresting while they confront we engage them furiously. It is now that we are, in terms of intelligence, deficient.”
In an operation in Maduguri last week, the JTF claimed to have killed twenty members of Boko Haram. See the full story here: http://bit.ly/Pxfgxs. In response, Boko Haram has said that the people killed were actually innocent civilians.
Lt. Colonel Musa refuted the claims made Boko Haram that JTF were killing innocent civilians and not their members. He said, “Here were people that confronted us. Confrontation in the sense that, they were shooting at us.” When pressed about how can the Nigerian believe the JTF statements, Lt. Colonel Musa responded, “I think you have to believe an institution that has integrity, the Nigerian army.”
He also spoke about a possible ongoing dialogue between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram. Lt. Colonel Musa stated that the JTF was ready to act should negotiations break down. He added, however that he deeply hopes and prays that they will succeed.