EXCLUSIVE: Boko Haram ‘demands immunity’
Contrary to reports that Boko Haram leaders did not give any pre-condition for ceasefire, TheCable can report that immunity from prosecution was one of their demands.
Alex Badeh, an air chief marshal and defence chief, had announced the ceasefire on Friday and disclosed that the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls would be released as part of the deal.
But attacks on some Borno villages at the weekend have cast serious doubts on the ceasefire, with uncertainty now hanging over the next course of action.
A government official told TheCable that at the negotiation table in Chad and Saudi Arabia, the representatives of Boko Haram sought assurances from the Nigerian government that the leaders of the sect would not face prosecution if they ended the insurgency.
But with the spate of bombings, destruction of property, displacement of millions and over 10,000 deaths since the insurgency started in 2009, the demand for immunity “was a touchy one”, the official said.
“But pardon will not be unprecedented. The country has fought a civil war that led to the deaths of over a million Nigerians and nobody was prosecuted.
“Leaders of the militant groups in the Niger Delta as well as leaders of ethnic militias in the south-west and south-east did not face any prosecution after turning a new leaf.”
The official did not disclose if federal government agreed to blanket immunity before announcing that a ceasefire agreement had been reached.
“From what we were told, it was one of the most difficult moments of the discussions,” the official explained.
Any immunity deal is likely to be controversial as many Nigerians are eager to see the leaders of the sect brought to justice for war crimes.
But the peace deal itself remains shaky, and it is becoming glaring that not all tendencies within the terror group are ready for ceasefire.
The factionalisation of Boko Haram has made it practically difficult for the government to be cocksure that the insurgency is about to end.
“We cannot say the deal is signed, sealed and delivered yet, but any progress at all is progress,” the official said.
Discussions are expected to resume in N’Djamena, the Chadian capital, on Monday, while there is optimism that about 70 Chibok girls will be handed over to President Idriss Déby by the militants within the week as a gesture of keeping faith with the agreement.
But some analysts are not convinced the government is discussing with authentic Boko Haram leaders after the renewed attacks in Borno at the weekend.
Ahmed Salkida, who is believed to be the one journalist with direct contact to the sect’s leaders, described the peace agreement as “shadows and bubbles” immediately after it was made public, maintaining that the negotiations were not with the real leaders of the group.
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Ahmad Salkida and Shehu Sani are beneficiaries of the insurgency as such any attempt to end it will be resisted by them through any means. Prior to the insurgency who knows Salkida was relatively unknown while Shehu sani an extortionist has garnered momentum
If granting BH fighters immunity will end the insurgency, then it should be considered. The bigger question however is how to integrate them back into the civil society considering their criminal tendencies and thirst for blood. Are we going to have similar program like the N.Delta one at great financial cost to the Nigerian tax payer? Will they be properly debriefed and will they swear their allegiance to the same FG they have consistently been ridiculing? There will be of course several questions as there are loopholes. The FG should remain committed and focused on the goal of restoring peace and development to the NE while the military should remain on alert to defend themselves, the citizens and the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
Perfect timing,if its true,since election year is around the corner.either way,if the FG and BH(that’s if they are not the same) think that they deeds(killing,kidnaps etc) will go in vain.then you(Bh and FG) in for it.remember “karma is a b****”.And a word of advice,
1: never call Allah(the lord) in vain.
2:”war is inevitable,it can only be postpond to the advantage opponate” (fundamentals of chess).
So BH and FG ya all make your beats and hell yes u may as well dance to it.”Life is but a blink of an eye”