…. Britain offers aid to Nigeria in combating terrorism
As part of efforts to end the insurgency in the country as well as the release of the abducted over 200 Chibok girls, the Islamist sect, Boko Haram have offered to release the girls in exchange for militant leaders held by the government.
According to an activist, who pleaded anonymity with AP because he was not authorised to talk to reporters on the sensitive issue, it was revealed that Boko Haram’s current offer is limited to the schoolgirls abducted on April 14, 2014.
“The new initiative reopens an offer made last year to the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan to release the 219 students in exchange for 16 Boko Haram detainees,” the activist said.
He said the five-week-old administration of President Muhammadu Buhari “offers a clean slate” to bring the militants back to negotiations that had become poisoned by the different security agencies and their advice to Jonathan.
It will be recalled that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Saturday stated that the Buhari-led government “will not be aversed” to talks with Boko Haram.
Fred Eno, an apolitical Nigerian who has been negotiating with Boko Haram for more than a year, told the AP that “another window of opportunity opened” in the last few days, though he could not discuss details.
He said the recent slew of Boko Haram bloodletting – some 350 people killed in the past nine days – is consistent with past intensifying of violence as the militants seek a stronger negotiating position.
Presidential adviser Femi Adesina said on Saturday that Nigeria’s government “will not be averse” to talks with Boko Haram.
“Most wars, however furious or vicious, often end around the negotiation table,” he had said.
Eno said the five-week-old administration of President Muhammadu Buhari offers “a clean slate” to bring the militants back to negotiations that had become poisoned by the different security agencies and their advice to former president Jonathan.
Two months of talks last year led government representatives and Eno to travel in September to a northeastern town where the prisoner exchange was to take place, only to be stymied by the Department for State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s intelligence agency, the activist said.
At the last minute then, the agency said it was holding only four of the militants sought by Boko Haram, the activist said.
It is not known how many Boko Haram suspects are detained by Nigeria’s intelligence agency, whose chief Buhari fired last week.
Thousands of suspects have died in custody, and some detainees wanted by Boko Haram may be among them. Amnesty International alleges that 8,000 detainees have died in military custody – some have been shot, some have died from untreated injuries due to torture, and some have died from starvation and other harsh treatment.
Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock says his country has several years of experience in counter terrorism, and could partner Nigeria through training, intelligence analysis and even financially.
At a parley with newsmen in Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria, the envoy noted that British troops can only come to the scene if granted access by Nigeria.
On Nigeria’s consideration to dialogue with insurgents, the diplomat says the move would be an error.
Dr. Pocock believes the country has all it takes to disarm the terrorists, adding that the Boko haram sect isn’t ready to drop weapons.
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