The Untold story of Gov Shettima, IGP, DSS peace talks with 11 Boko Haram commanders
Contrary to claims that the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect is a
faceless group, Sunday Trust has exclusively gathered that there was
indeed a high-level discussion between a government delegation, led by
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State and 11 field commanders of the
Boko Haram, held under top secrecy and amidst intense security at the
Lagos House, a government lodge for visitors, in Maiduguri.
An impeccable top security source
revealed to Sunday Trust in Abuja that the meeting took place in early
May 2012, at the instance of Governor Shettima. But in attendance was a
representative of Inspector General of Police Mohammed Dikko Abubakar,
Borno State Director, Department of State Security Service, the state’s
Commissioner of Police, an intelligence officer from the military along
with the state deputy governor, Mustapha Umar Zannah. All these top
government functionaries were said to have been physically present at
the talks.
The source told Sunday Trust that: “One
of them was named Sheikh Asheku, a leader of the Boko Haram, who is
believed to be a field commander. I don’t know if he is in charge of
Borno.
I think he is the one contacted by the
governor’s agents. Based on an understanding, the Boko Haram leaders
checked into one hotel in Maiduguri. Asheku was the first person to
check in. The others came in at different times and were moved into
different rooms. Their leader called later in the evening and disclosed
their location. After that, one white air-conditioned bus was sent to
them, while our security men kept surveillance, monitoring every step,
in case they were up to some games.”
The source explained further that, “I learnt that initially, they were
very worried for their safety,” the source continued. “I don’t know how
the governor was able to convince them. I think they just took the risk
because amongst them was a wanted man. All the security officers saw
him, but there was no way he could have been arrested because the
governor made everybody to agree that the sect leaders must safely leave
the venue of the meeting. During the meeting, the governor interacted
with them and asked them the conditions under which they would halt the
bombing and killings.”
Sunday Trust learnt that the field
commanders said they wanted their mosque, which was destroyed in the
2009 crisis in Maiduguri, reconstructed. They also wanted the killers of
their leader Mohammed Yusuf to be prosecuted and their properties
seized or destroyed by the authorities to be returned or built back.
The field commanders added further that they wanted their wives and
family members who have been arrested to be released, and their freedom
of worship, based on their ideology, guaranteed and respected. The Boko
Haram members further demanded that their members who are under custody
be released. According to Sunday Trust’s source, the field commanders
agreed to drop their arms after their Number One Imam may have been
reached.
The governor was said to have promised
that government could pay for every gun returned by the fighters, and
that they will be trained and given funds to start any business of their
choice. The governor was said to have promised that the Boko Haram
mosque will be rebuilt and their houses given back to them, but as for
other demands, they were beyond his office as governor of Borno State.
He was said to have, however, promised to contact the president on those
issues.
“But there was a problem along the
line,” the source pointed out. “One of the security agencies, the JTF’s
representative, was not comfortable with the talks. Maybe, they didn’t
get orders from the Chief of Army or Defence Staff. But like you know,
soldiers are trained to destroy opponents. They regard anyone that
carries arms against them as enemy. They are not trained to go into
discussion with their enemies; they only crush. But I think the problem
in Nigeria is that security agencies have no synergy. We operate at
different levels; sometimes, we even sabotage each other. There is
rivalry at all levels between soldiers and police and between police and
SSS and also between SSS and the military.”
The security source remarked that “if
government wants dialogue with Boko Haram, all it should do is to assure
the sect leaders that their security will be guaranteed.”
Sunday Trust gathered that before the
meeting, heavily armed security agents, police armoured tanks were
deployed to the Lagos House, and visitors were prevented from lodging
there 24 hours to the meeting, as security officials took control of the
entire building, to forestall any funny game by the Boko Haram field
commanders.
Checks at the police headquarters in Abuja did not yield much fruits as no top official was prepared to speak on the issue.
