[size=14pt]The Scourge of Boko Haram: Why Obasanjo visited Mohammed Yusuf’s family[/size]
On September 18, 2011 · In Special Report , 
*Got Jonathan’s endorsement
By Jide Ajani, Deputy Editor

It was a desperate move! Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, former President and Commander-in-Chief, knows an opportunity when he sees one.

Just smarting from the well-rounded criticism that greeted his misplaced enthusiasm on the issue of zoning, a matter which saw his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, kissing the dust of disapproval brought about by members of the House of Representatives, Obasanjo, indeed, sat back to re-assess the basis of his sense of statesmanship and importance. This, especially at a time when he appeared to be burning bridges of national relevance in a nation of competing interests.

Sunday Vanguard has been reliably informed by inside sources in Aso Rock Presidential Villa that Obasanjo made contact with President Goodluck Jonathan last week on the seemingly intractable national and deadly embarrassment that the Boko Haram scourge and the ceaseless mindless killings in Jos, Plateau State capital, had become.
[b]
Upon making the contact, Obasanjo set the tone for what the source described as a “first step in being seen to be making a move with a view to resolving this crisis that appears to be consuming Nigeria”. Information available to Sunday Vanguard suggests that the move was purely Obasanjo’s idea. In addition, the source hinted that “Obasanjo explained to President Jonathan that what he had expected was for some Northern leaders to find a way out of this crisis.

“He said he had expected the likes of former military President Ibrahim Babangida to have followed up his press statements and condemnation of the attacks by Boko Haram with a visible personal step.

“The discussion also focused on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as well as former President Shehu Shagari, who remains very respected as a weighty voice in the North to have waded into the matter.

“It was because of the seeming absence of such a move(s) from these respected northern leaders that Obasanjo told the President and Commander-in-Chief that he would volunteer himself for the visit which was meant to demonstrate that the Nigerian state was not in support of the extra-judicial killing of Mohammed Yusuf, founder of the Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa (brothers), popularly known as Boko Haram sect”, the source revealed.[/b]


The killings in Jos, Plateau State, was also discussed and Obasanjo also volunteered to meet with religious and political leaders in the state.

[b]Therefore, having secured the endorsement of President Jonathan, and the latter seeing the move as a deliberate effort at reaching a middle ground, it was resolved that the Presidency  would provide logistical support for Obasanjo’s engagement.

Sunday Vanguard was told that on Wednesday,the Presidency made available a jet for Obasanjo to first fly into Jos. His visit to Jos saw him holding talks with the leadership of Jamatu Nasir Islam, JNI, and Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, as well as leaders of Plateau State.

Although details of Obasanjo’s meetings were not immediately known, Sunday Vanguard  learnt that it is not unconnected with the increase in the wave of bombings and killings in the country. And, then from Jos, Obasanjo was flown to Yola airport on Thursday. From Yola, a helicopter was made available for him to take him to Maiduguri, Borno State capital. There, the former President paid a visit to the family house of Mohammed Yusuf. Obasanjo visited the late Yusuf’s family house at Railway Quarters, the demolished headquarters of the sect in Maiduguri.[/b]

Obasanjo, who arrived  Maiduguri at 11:40 am, on Thursday, was received by the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha. The meeting with the family members lasted 90 minutes.

At the meeting, the former president said:“This is a personal initiative. I urge you to forgive and forget the past. I plead with you, give me the chance to mediate between the family and government”.

In response, Yusuf’s brother-in-law, Babakura Fuggu, whose father wasalso executed in 2009 said: “Since 2009, this is the first time any high profile figure would be commiserating with the family.

“We are happy with this visit. “About 30 to 40 per cent of our members are scattered in neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun”.

The former president thereafter departed for the airport where his helicopter again took him to Yola,  Adamawa State,  from where he boarded the jet which had been waiting to take him back to Abuja.

It would be recalled that Yusuf was killed while in police custody in Maiduguri after his arrest by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF.

Already, some policemen are being tried for the extra-judicial killing of Yusuf.

In Jos, September 7  marked the 10th year when killings broke out in the once peaceful Plateau State capital. The week witnessed a killing spree which resulted in the deaths of over four dozen. However, observers are of the view that Obasanjo’s move may not be unconnected with his desire to re-launch himself, having been the butt of criticisms lately on account of comments he made about Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Babangida.

But the seeming underhanded negotiation with sect members is seen by some as a welcome development while others do not see the need for a negotiation with terrorists.

Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that the threat of Boko Haram, which last week extended to University of Benin, UNIBEN, Benin, Edo State in the South- South geo-political zone, and University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, in the South West geo-political zone, was not going to be taken lightly by the authorities.

Already, UNIBEN authorities have closed the university. It is also being speculated that there may have been more reasons for President Jonathan’s pacifist move. There is a theory already floating. When the late President Umaru Yar’Adua who hailed from the North pronounced his administration’s resolve to grant amnesty to Niger Delta militants, some leaders in the country opposed it. Today, the activities of the militants – which some people described as being no different from terrorism – are all but gone.

Today, Jonathan, from the South, is also pursuing an approach not completely different from a pacification of the leaders of Boko Haram.

That was why it was not difficult at all for him to not only allow Obasanjo embark on the trip to Maiduguri but also provided him with support.

Jonathan is due in New York, United States of America, tomorrow.

Our demands, by Boko Haram
The group, in May 2011, in a three-page  statement  purportedly written in Hausa and distributed to newsmen in Maiduguri, vowed never ending the persistent attacks, explaining all that the ward and village heads, politicians, police and the army, were targets, “because they erred by associating themselves with the government in its effort to arrest Muslim brothers and sabotage Islam”.

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, had after winning the April election promised to grant amnesty to the feared sect members and solicited for the full cooperation and understanding of the three opposition parties, traditional and religious leaders.

The sect members surprisingly refused the planned amnesty. They transformed into Jama’atu Ahliss-Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, and resolved to target security operatives and  civilians for the serial killings in Borno State following their “active support and protection” for the Nigerian system of government which contradicted Islamic principles.

In a statement last July which was written in Hausa and entitled: ‘Conditions for dialogue with President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State’, the sect members maintained and demanded that, the application of strict Sharia Islamic law in the Muslim-dominated states of the North and immediate release of all members of the sect detained in Borno State and other northern states, must be addressed with immediate effect.

The statement stressed that, the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi; former Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame; former Borno State Commissioner of Police and Director of State Security Service (SSS), who served during sectarian mayhem in 2009, must be arrested and prosecuted accordingly, for conspiring to kill late leader, Sheikh Mohammed Yusuf, after he was arrested  and soldiers handed him over to police at the 21 Armoured Brigade, popularly known as Giwa Military Barracks in Maidugur.

Similarly, the statement added that, others to be prosecuted according to Sharia were the security operatives particularly those attached to the Operation Flush Joint Task Force (JTF) for causing the first crisis along the Customs area in the metropolis when they shot and wounded 20 of their brothers and killed two others.

“They also shot dead seven of our brothers and wounded 10 others during the commissioning of a mosque in Monguno Local Government Area. We also demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of those behind the killings of Baa Fugu Mohammed, who was the father-in-law of the late Boko Haram leader and a former commissioner during Sheriff’s administration, Alhaji Buju Foi.

Another condition for  dialogue, according to the statement, calls for the immediate resignation of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)–led government in Borno State under Governor Kashim Shettima, because the party machineries were responsible for the attack on the Ibn Thaimiyya Islamic Centre (Markas) in Maiduguri (the enclave of the late leader of the sect).

It also requested for an immediate investigation into the killing of their brothers through food poisoning which was perpetrated by prison warders with the alleged  connivance of former Governor Ali Sheriff.

Also, the statement urged the Federal Government to release the report of committee of inquiry set up by late President Umaru Yar’Adua, which was headed by former National Security Adviser (NSA), Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar, to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killings of their brothers during the 2009 unrest.

Finally, the statement stated that, if the Federal Government cannot fulfill these conditions, the sect members would not entertain any dialogue and that the proposed deployment of additional troops to the state as announced by Gov. Shettima would not deter them from the ongoing guerrilla attacks in any parts of the country. Adding that, they are fully aware of the government’s move to seek assistance of FBI, CIA, the Israel intelligence agency, Mossad or Interpol.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/the-scourge-of-boko-haram-why-obasanjo-visited-mohammed-yusuf%E2%80%99s-family/

Again we are moving even closer to negotiating a deal with these criminals. What is new?

Kobojunkie:

Again we are moving even closer to negotiating a deal with these criminals. What is new?

I don't have a problem with making deals to save lives. Human life is the most precious thing in the world.

Seun:

I don't have a problem with making deals to save lives. Human life is the most precious thing in the world.

OK, let's be frank with ourselves here and ask the pertinent questions at this point. How many lives have been saved as a result previous deals made to date? How many more deals will we need to make to ensure we save all Nigerians in the near future from other groups to come? And we know kidnappers already count as part, but do we extend these deals to the robbers and murders(anons) as well?

I don't have a problem with making deals to save lives. Human life is the most precious thing in the world.

The truth and the sad part of it all is you're not saving any live when you negotiate with terrorist.

When a president or former president is begging or negotiating with terrorist is the beginning of stupidlty. It has never worked and it will not work.
OBJ's move has only done 4 things:
1. Given Boko Haram confidence
2. Justified Boko Haram's actions
3. Showed that current administration is not only weak, but also confused.
4. Placed more innocent lives at risk.

I find it very difficult to understand why many of us are struggling to clearly see a tough position OBJ's action has placed this country.

. . . “Obasanjo explained to President Jonathan that what he had expected was for some Northern leaders to find a way out of this crisis.

“He said he had [b]expected the likes of former military President Ibrahim Babangida to have followed up his press statements and condemnation of the attacks by Boko Haram with a visible personal step.

“The discussion also focused on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as well as former President Shehu Shagari, who remains very respected as a weighty voice in the North to have waded into the matter.

“It was because of the seeming absence of such a move(s) from these respected northern leaders [/b]that Obasanjo told the President and Commander-in-Chief that he would volunteer himself for the visit which was meant to demonstrate that the Nigerian state was not in support of the extra-judicial killing of Mohammed Yusuf, founder of the Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa (brothers), popularly known as Boko Haram sect”, the source revealed.

Obj did very well with his mission to Maiduguri. Perhaps the full impact of his mission is captured in the bolded above. Added to the reasons given elsewhere, it is possible that Baba Fugu's killing was ordered by a politician who felt upstaged or sidelined by Obj. That is an important angle to investigate.

We have to first figure out whether the enemy is using words of a deal as a tactic or looking for genuine reconciliation. The examples of BH new & old show that they are in the former category. This is the signature of taliban- and al-qaeda-like elements worldwide.

A few months ago they asked several govs to apologize and against better judgment many of them did. Well BH then rejected it and went ahead with new bombings. The Somalian version of al-qaeda would rather watch the people die rather than allow food in even in the face of the worst famine in recent times.

Those who are against a military approach to BH have no imagination about the groups long-term plans. This is a fight that "their ancestors" have being fighting over centuries, hence any affairs of the present are just tools to continue that fight. Although the solution is not a "firefight" one alone it must be clear to BH without equivocation that terrorism of any kind would be met with death for those behind it.

Seun:

I don't have a problem with making deals to save lives. Human life is the most precious thing in the world.

OBJ has made Nigeria the perfect spot for terrorist by labelling this admin as a begging bunch.
OBJ's action is more or less like an advertisement to attract or send message to vicious groups that "Terrorist will make more money and have their way when they operate in Nigeria".
The move is totally ridiculous.

I believe Afghanistan people also apologized to the Taliban group at the beginning of the group relocation to Afghanistan.

Seun:

I don't have a problem with making deals to save lives. Human life is the most precious thing in the world.

Did you read their conditions? The day the Nigerian government sign and fulfil a deal like that is the day I'll change my name to Goodluck.

They are demanding justice, the leaders we have don't believe in justice. They prefer to throw money at you and hide the issue under the carpet. All of them!

Just pray very hard that Boko Haram is not ideologically deep, else forget that Naija styled deals you prefer.

I must stress again that any justice must include the trial and execution of those who murdered people at the UN building and other bombings across the country.

Boko Haram massacres innocent Nigerians in cold blood. Their leader is captured, and killed, and in response, our ex-President feels it is wise to go visit the family and pay his respects.

And then some eejits accuse others, who have taken to staying away from the whole fiasco, of fueling the Boko Haram scourge. WOW!!

The bolded below show that u people are yet to grasp the full extent of the war you are engaged in. Which politician has the logistics to reach Baba Fugu with an AK47 within 24hrs of OBJ's visit ? That politician must really be getting ready to move into Aso Rock by force of arms or this is some greater militant threat.

There is no doubt that some politicians have sordid their hands in the BH affairs, but I bet you they did not realize what they were getting into. The monster they fed for selfish political purposes has taken on a life of its own, and will consume them in due time. There are at least four elements making up the BH menace, and they are not necessarily working hand-in-glove. Perhaps that would help:

1. The original BH which unfortunately doesn't realize they have lost out in the control of the group. That message was soundly blasted with the immediate killing of Baba Fugu for daring to speak for the group.
2. the politicians that promised to make Nigeria ungovernable for GEJ if he ever stood for and won the election - these ones are currently shaking in their boots wherever they are.
3. al-qaeda affliates who we have been warned many moons ago were seeking to open another front of its useless war in Northern Nigeria. They are good at taking advantage of political conflicts to establish themselves, and probably flocking across our northern border by the day.
4. Disgruntled elements of the Nigerian armed forces. These people are probably the most dangerous because they are part and parcel of the Nigerian security system.

Beaf:

Obj did very well with his mission to Maiduguri. Perhaps the full impact of his mission is captured in the bolded above. Added to the reasons given elsewhere, [size=14pt]it is possible that Baba Fugu's killing was ordered by a politician who felt upstaged or sidelined by Obj[/size]. That is an important angle to investigate.

If there's just 1 in a million chance of ending this on the negotiation table, then it's a chance worth taking. You guys really need to face the reality of what's staring us all in the face here, the almighty US have been battling for over a decade in Afghanistan and with billions of dollars and thousands of lives gone, victory is no closer than it was in 2001 and even they are now dangling carrots. Forget the rhetoric, the slogan is now 'Do what you must'. Obj should be commended and shame on the so called Northern elites. Friggin cowards!

The reality of what is staring us all in the face is NEGOTIATIONS, even with the same group, have failed in the past! If there is anything we ought to have learnt at this point, it is that when we negotiate with terrorist, we fuel the problem.

Negotiations? You can only negotiate when two parties are being honest. The BH Nigeria is dealing with wants no negotiations, and in fact there is no basis for negotiations. The only reason why negotiation is in play here is because the Nigeria government is itself a violator of law. If justice had been done at the right time nobody would be giving silly excuses such as compensation for killing of their leader - after they had taken 100s of lives. Are they going to bring those people back to life at the negotiation table? If they are willing to settle for a couple of N100 million, how many millions of Naira do they owe the families of those killed during their uprisings and bombings?

wesley80:

If there's just 1 in a million chance of ending this on the negotiation table, then it's a chance worth taking. You guys really need to face the reality of what's staring us all in the face here, the almighty US have been battling for over a decade in Afghanistan and with billions of dollars and thousands of lives gone, victory is no closer than it was in 2001 and even they are now dangling carrots. Forget the rhetoric, the slogan is now 'Do what you must'. Obj should be commended and shame on the so called Northern elites. Friggin cowards!

@mitofag, funny enough, you just acted like a terrorist with that post!

The best approach to this problem should be to pursue total JUSTICE no matter whose head the hammer falls on.

koruji:

The bolded below show that u people are yet to grasp the full extent of the war you are engaged in. Which politician has the logistics to reach Baba Fugu with an AK47 within 24hrs of OBJ's visit ? That politician must really be getting ready to move into Aso Rock by force of arms or this is some greater militant threat.

There is no doubt that some politicians have sordid their hands in the BH affairs, but I bet you they did not realize what they were getting into. The monster they fed for selfish political purposes has taken on a life of its own, and will consume them in due time. There are at least four elements making up the BH menace, and they are not necessarily working hand-in-glove. Perhaps that would help:

1. The original BH which unfortunately doesn't realize they have lost out in the control of the group. That message was soundly blasted with the immediate killing of Baba Fugu for daring to speak for the group.
2. the politicians that promised to make Nigeria ungovernable for GEJ if he ever stood for and won the election - these ones are currently shaking in their boots wherever they are.
3. al-qaeda affliates who we have been warned many moons ago were seeking to open another front of its useless war in Northern Nigeria. They are good at taking advantage of political conflicts to establish themselves, and probably flocking across our northern border by the day.
4. Disgruntled elements of the Nigerian armed forces. These people are probably the most dangerous because they are part and parcel of the Nigerian security system.

Beautiful analysis.
Unfortunately, it is shot down by the fact that a man actually came forward to negotiate on behalf of boko haram, he planned the meeting, consulted with others and finally met Obj, he even had the confidence to organise newspaper interviews after the event; in all that time, he wasn't killed, he was a man in control. Baba Fugu was even ready to point out where almost half of boko haram members are resident in Chad and Niger.
It would seem more like something went wrong after the meeting.

IMHO, your analysis has some truths, but it over-exaggerates the influence of al qaeda and downgrades the influence of local politicians. Baba Fugu was certainly not scared of al qaeda's influence otherwise he wouldn't have come forward.

koruji:

Negotiations? You can only negotiate when two parties are being honest. The BH Nigeria is dealing with wants no negotiations, and in fact there is no basis for negotiations. The only reason why negotiation is in play here is because the Nigeria government is itself a violator of law. If justice had been done at the right time nobody would be giving silly excuses such as compensation for killing of their leader - after they had taken 100s of lives. Are they going to bring those people back to life at the negotiation table? If they are willing to settle for a couple of N100 million, how many millions of Naira do they owe the families of those killed during their uprisings and bombings?

The fact that Baba Fugu made such high demands is a common bargaining trick, of course they would have been watered down if any negotiations where to take place. There is no proof that negotiations were on either, lets have it in mind that the least of demands came solely from Baba Fugu, maybe he even wrote them long after the meeting.

Like I said, if there's one in a million chances of ending this on a table, its worth taking. The question of sincerity does not arise until we've exhausted all avenues to peace but we've only just began. This is not the time to trade blames either, there's a problem at hand and its on all of us regardless of who started it. Permit me to draw this analogy, BH is like a tsetse fly perched on a mans scrotu-m, you just cant crush it cos u hate it, You've got to find the subtlest means to get it off and crushing is only the very last of resorts and even then the consequences could be grave. So let Obj do what he can and let Gej explore all options available, its our collective sac on the line here!

Kobojunkie:

The reality of what is staring us all in the face is NEGOTIATIONS, even with the same group, have failed in the past! If there is anything we ought to have learnt at this point, it is that when we negotiate with terrorist, we fuel the problem. 

There are already reports that Obasanjo is DENYING claims that he was there to NEGOTIATE with the group. Being who he is, this is probably coming after he probably realized he may have made the situation worse by heading out that way.

Maybe 'Dialogue' is a safer term to use than 'Negotiation' and No Obj has not made any mistake in getting BH to reveal their hand like no one expected. At least now we can begin to ask questions like 'who really is in charge'. It would be ungracious not to appreciate the effort of the ex president, successful or not, ego trip or not at least he's done something that could have gone either way.

Ok, mo ti gbo o. As if negotiation was not GEJ's plan before BH went after the U.N. building. E ma tan ra yin je.

wesley80:

Like I said, if there's one in a million chances of ending this on a table, its worth taking. The question of sincerity does not arise until we've exhausted all avenues to peace but we've only just began. This is not the time to trade blames either, there's a problem at hand and its on all of us regardless of who started it. Permit me to draw this analogy, BH is like a tsetse fly perched on a mans scrotu-m, you just cant crush it cos u hate it, You've got to find the subtlest means to get it off and crushing is only the very last of resorts and even then the consequences could be grave. So let Obj do what he can and let Gej explore all options available, its our collective sac on the line here!

Um . . . I think the question of "Who is in Charge?" has been asked so many times before now and gone unanswered, even till now. Suggesting that an ex-President visiting a terrorist group certainly should be seen to yield some good in the end is a tad pretentious. Obasanjo's visit has so far yielded NOTHING new in all.

The man is reported to have denied the claims that he was there on behalf of the nation. He claims he was there to LEARN of the group, making some really senseless claims along with that.

Still tied to this idea that you are dealing with a cohesive group that one man can speak for. Didn't u state somewhere else that his killing is enough to show that there is more than one BH. The man acted because he, like the policy thinkers in Nigeria (he he he policy thinkers in Nigeria) thought the BH of yesterday is the same BH of today.

As the first item on the list suggested the message of eliminating him was to let the FG know that he was not in command of BH - at least the one carrying out the most deadly attacks at this point. This group has been directly taken over by another element. Methinks it is either al-qaeda or the fifth columnists of our armed forces. These are the people with the wherewithal to command assets of this nature. There is no doubt some politicians are complicit in this, but I bet they don't like the direction this is going at this point.

If there is really a politician within Nigeria commanding this type of assets then Nigeria's condition is even worse.

As I said elsewhere, GEJ needs to identify these groups (my list includes 4 but there may be others), their individual end games, and their network of operation (there are potentially 15 different ways these 4 groups may be combining efforts).

Beaf:

Beautiful analysis.
Unfortunately, it is shot down by the fact that a man actually came forward to negotiate on behalf of boko haram, he planned the meeting, consulted with others and finally met Obj, he even had the confidence to organise newspaper interviews after the event; in all that time, he wasn't killed, he was a man in control. Baba Fugu was even ready to point out where almost half of boko haram members are resident in Chad and Niger.
It would seem more like something went wrong after the meeting.

IMHO, your analysis has some truths, but it over-exaggerates the influence of al qaeda and downgrades the influence of local politicians. Baba Fugu was certainly not scared of al qaeda's influence otherwise he wouldn't have come forward.

The fact that Baba Fugu made such high demands is a common bargaining trick, of course they would have been watered down if any negotiations where to take place. There is no proof that negotiations were on either, lets have it in mind that the least of demands came solely from Baba Fugu, maybe he even wrote them long after the meeting.

Why is everyone talking about negotiation? There was no negotiation, OBJ went there to open a door and to sow discord if possible among the factions that now make up the terrorist group.
He did both. Now with this latest killing BH must further reveal themselves in order to talk to the FG.

wow . . .

OBJ's visit to the family of the Boko haram leader is the Grave mistake by OBJ and by extension the FG.

First you do not
negotiate (publicly) with terrorists who have killed and. maimed thousands without justification. You only give the group legitimacy and encourage other group with grievances to take to terrorism.



A member of the late Boko haram's leader cannot possibly be the next in command in the boko haram command structure (or he should have been arrested), so I do not understand what the negotiations with the family was meant to achieve.

Thirdly and most importantly, the choice of OBJ would be seen as a slap on all Northern.leaders who have many well respected religious, political or societal leaders including former heads of state. Somebody like Gowon, Abdulsalami or even a respected traditional ruler. The north and their leaders do not trust or like ObJ, and besides he is neither a northerner nor a muslim and it was only a publicity stunt by OBJ. Northern leaders might now decide to jeopardize all efforts to resolve the problem (if they are not already part of the problem), in order to show their relevance and influence.

Obj came to gej with a typical styled yahoo yahoo format with sentiments loaded in d proposal as against reasoning and d maga at aso rock bought d proposal and was in a hurry to give his blessings rather than ponder over it and make an impute that will be far more pragmatic and achieved d desire result. This was a scam, obj is so hated in the north over d role he played during d zonning issue so he had to come up with this dummy to pretend as if he cares. Common sense shld ve enabled d president to decine better that even if he must get involved in this dumb scam mission proposed by d godfather himslf, he obj is nt d best candidate for this job. He shld ve consulted widely expecially with d leaders from the north starting with his vp but mr president will always get honey at d mare mention of obj's name. Outcome = man down 72hrs after obj's mischivious learning visit, meaning mission unaccomplished whl d godfather goes back to ota with gmg bag tagged logistics frm FG to figure out another scam cos maga don pay and d cycle continues.

koruji:

Still tied to this idea that you are dealing with a cohesive group that one man can speak for. Didn't u state somewhere else that his killing is enough to show that there is more than one BH. The man acted because he, like the policy thinkers in Nigeria (he he he policy thinkers in Nigeria) thought the BH of yesterday is the same BH of today.

As the first item on the list suggested the message of eliminating him was to let the FG know that he was not in command of BH - at least the one carrying out the most deadly attacks at this point. This group has been directly taken over by another element. Methinks it is either al-qaeda or the fifth columnists of our armed forces. These are the people with the wherewithal to command assets of this nature. There is no doubt some politicians are complicit in this, but I bet they don't like the direction this is going at this point.

If there is really a politician within Nigeria commanding this type of assets then Nigeria's condition is even worse.

As I said elsewhere, GEJ needs to identify these groups (my list includes 4 but there may be others), their individual end games, and their network of operation (there are potentially 15 different ways these 4 groups may be combining efforts).

The govt can strive to get a handle on one of the factions and through that, get a handle on the whole network. Thats a worthwhile strategy that will eventually open up the clandestine details of boko haram and lead to its taming.
Even though Baba Fugu is dead, there are several others that govt can latch unto with an offer of protection, since no ranking member of boko haram (and their families) can be feeling very safe at this time.

wirinet:

OBJ's visit to the family of the Boko haram leader is the Grave mistake by OBJ and by extension the FG.

First you do not
negotiate (publicly) with terrorists who have killed and. maimed thousands without justification. You only give the group legitimacy and encourage other group with grievances to take to terrorism.

A member of the late Boko haram's leader cannot possibly be the next in command in the boko haram command structure (or he should have been arrested), so I do not understand what the negotiations with the family was meant to achieve.

Thirdly and most importantly, the choice of OBJ would be seen as a slap on all Northern.leaders who have many well respected religious, political or societal leaders including former heads of state. Somebody like Gowon, Abdulsalami or even a respected traditional ruler. The north and their leaders do not trust or like ObJ, and besides he is neither a northerner nor a muslim and it was only a publicity stunt by OBJ. Northern leaders might now decide to jeopardize all efforts to resolve the problem (if they are not already part of the problem), in order to show their relevance and influence.

Where do you guy's get all these "laws of talking to terrorists" from?
Here is pictorial proof that govts can talk to terrorists and that such talks do indeed yield great results.

Tony Blair (British Prime Minister) and Gerry Adams of the IRA (terrorist group).
The IRA did much more damage than boko haram can ever muster.

Imagine the opening tense scene in a crime thriller tailor-made for direction by an Alfred Hitchcock or Stanley Kubrick in which a British Prime Minister and his chief aide are on their way to a secret rendezvous to meet directly with the IRA Army Council, all eight of whom will be clad in masks.

This clandestine meeting is set to take place in rugged rural countryside somewhere close to the Fermanagh-Donegal border. Uncomfortably seated in the back of a black Hackney taxi are Tony Blair and his trusted confidante, Jonathan Powell, both crouching incognito behind newspapers

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/everyone-was-nervous-gerry-adams-hands-were-visibly-shaking-1324808.html

[img]http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00175/gerrytony_175992t.jpg[/img]

This is not the point. GEJ and his aides need to stop looking for excuses for events in Nigeria. They need to figure out the real nature of the problem. If Blair met with the IRA leadership it was after having done the necessary underground work to ensure that it did not become an egg in the face of his govt.

Obviously OBJ was sent on a fruitless mission because the govt. did not really know who was behind BH - contrary to public pronouncements by GEJ.

Let me quickly add that the kind of terrorism that Osama Bin Laden perpetrated was a good reason why some of the terrorists group in Europe accelerated reconciliatory moves. Since 2001 the IRA & Basque Separatist groups have either settled with their govts. or shut down their previously incessant bombings. The reason is they realized the danger & real possibility of being mixed up with Osama Bin Laden type terrorism.

Instead, Nigeria's BH is trying its level best to project itself as al-qaeda's next offspring - different strokes for different folks.

Beaf:

Where do you guy's get all these "laws of talking to terrorists" from?
Here is pictorial proof that govts can talk to terrorists and that such talks do indeed yield great results.

Tony Blair (British Prime Minister) and Gerry Adams of the IRA (terrorist group).
The IRA did much more damage than boko haram can ever muster.

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/everyone-was-nervous-gerry-adams-hands-were-visibly-shaking-1324808.html

[img]http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00175/gerrytony_175992t.jpg[/img]