Don't Negotiate with Boko Haram, Group tells Buhari

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged the federal government to shelve any plan to dialogue with the Boko Haram terroritst group, arguing that such efforts may be an exercise in futility.

According to a former Inspector General of Police who is also the ACF Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, previous attempts at a peaceful resolution of the prolonged Boko Haram terrorism did not yield the desired results.

Coomasie who spoke at a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, also chided Igbo elders and leaders for allegedly failing to condemn those promoting the revival of Biafra.

He said government should sustain its current onslaught against the Boko Haram terrorists, noting that, “so far, so good, things are going on as they should and very soon, we who will finish with Boko Haram.

“If you recall, the federal government in the past proposed a dialogue and even set up a mediation group but the so called dialogue collapsed.

“There had alsobeen other issues including a ceasefire agreement which the Boko Haram and even the federal government described as false.

“So, with the way things are happening, is it now we should talk of dialogue and who is asking for dialogue in the first place?

“During the last one year, the ACF has made concerted efforts aimed at bringing to the notice of both the northern states and the federal government, the killings and other atrocities being perpetrated by the Boko Haram and their collaborators.

“We had put pressure on both the federal government and the northern state governments, urging them to save the lives of our people by acting fast and decisively to stop the insurgency.”

[ThisDay]