Fresh facts emerged yesterday that Boko Haram members may agree to cease fire in the spate of bombings in the country if the Federal Government apologises to the sect.
The sect also wants the government to pay compensation for their losses, try the killers of the slain leader of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, and release its detained members.
These were some of the agreements reached with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo during a visit he paid to members of Yusuf’s family in Maiduguri on Thursday.
It was also learnt that the Federal Government may  open talks with the sect, depending on the understanding that is reached between the sect and Obasanjo.
Although the Presidency is said to be excited at the inroad Obasanjo has made into the Boko Haram enclave, the ex-President is yet to make a report to the government on his discussion with the sect.
But the report of the Presidential Committee on Boko-Haram, headed by Alhaji Usman Galtimari, is ready and may also guide the government on how to negotiate with the leaders of the sect.
Investigation by The Nation  showed that the Boko Haram leaders are weighing options on the olive branch from the ex-President.

A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “From intelligence reports, the Boko Haram members may cease fire, but with some conditions. They have stated these conditions since June, and these are known to security agencies.
“Some of these conditions were also raised during the audience Obasanjo had with Yusuf’s family.
“These conditions include an apology to the family of the slain Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf and the family of his slain father-in-law; compensation for losses suffered by the sect as a result of extra-judicial killings by the Nigeria Police and the release of all its detained members nationwide.
”They are also demanding the trial of those involved in the killing of Mohammed Yusuf, his father-in-law and other top leaders of the sect.
“The bold step taken by Obasanjo is a sign that the family of Yusuf could lead the initiative for peace talks with Boko Haram leaders.”
A top government source, however, said: “The government will be willing to discuss with Boko Haram leaders after all we are all Nigerians.
“The talk between the sect and ex-President Obasanjo was a welcome relief to all of us. No government will be happy with the spate of bombings nationwide.
“Our own approach is that whichever way we can resolve the challenge, we are prepared for it.  Anything that will bring peace, we are ready for it.
“The real truth is that the original concept of Boko Haram has expanded beyond what it was. We hope that the incoming talks will take care of the expansion.

“We are also interested in those we will talk with as a government. It is too early to talk of conditions from Boko Haram, because we do not know yet those we are going to talk with.
“I think with the initiative of the ex-President, we will soon know who to talk with.
Responding to a question, the source added: “Ex-President Obasanjo is yet to report formally to the government on his ongoing talks with Mohammed Yusuf’s family.
“I think the discussion is still at a preliminary level.”
But the report of Galtimari’s committee may guide the government on how to negotiate with the leaders of the sect.
A member of the committee said: “Our report is ready; we are only waiting for the government to give us a date to submit it.
“We have been asked not to talk to the press except the chairman of the committee. But we will soon make the report available to the government.”
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim had on August 2, 2011 inaugurated the committee.
Anyim said: “So I want to clarify that the purpose of this committee, like I said earlier is to create a forum whereby everybody who has suggestion or opinion will be able to give same to the committee, the committee is to sensitise and advise us. I emphasise that the committee is a fact finding team and a forum to proffer solution to the crisis.”

sources

There would have been no need to negotiate with this terrorist organisation in the first place if the FG has:
1. Invest adequately in security in Nigeria to ensure we have a functioning police force capable of maintaining law and order, uphold basic human rights and have ability to make use of modern equipments to gather intelligence, store and make use of these intelligence.
2. Invest in education, infrastructure and job creation.

Our government is reaping what they've sown! It's a pity a whole Nigeria have to beg a terrorist organisation what will happen if we're invaded by a country like South Africa?

Yes, the perpetrators of the cold killing of their leader should be brought to book. Then, the release of their members is a no no . . . they must undergo judicial judgement as well.

tunnytox:

There would have been no need to negotiate with this terrorist organisation in the first place if the FG has:
1. Invest adequately in security in Nigeria to ensure we have a functioning police force capable of maintaining law and order, uphold basic human rights and have ability to make use of modern equipments to gather intelligence, store and make use of these intelligence.
2. Invest in education, infrastructure and job creation.

Our government is reaping what they've sown! It's a pity a whole Nigeria have to beg a terrorist organisation what will happen if we're invaded by a country like South Africa?

Abeg -

America with all that still had the worse of terrorism from Al Qaeda. Go think again.

Yes, the perpetrators of the cold killing of their leader should be brought to book. Then, the release of their members is a no no . . . they must undergo judicial judgment as well.

Why? So you don't consider the number of innocent Nigerians massacred by the group before their leader was arrested and send to the world beyond?

I feel Govt is still handling the BH sect members with a kid's glove considering death caused and the total anarchy which they have turned the Nigerian state into.

Do you think the family still maintains control over the entire boko setup? Think again.

All I have to say is that if the bombings actually stop,then Obasanjo has become the greatest leader ever to emerge in Nigeria.

The trial of the sect leader shud be ensured by th FG but the members caught shud be made to face the full wrath of law. If the FG would be so irrational to release this haters of peace and unity then it shud come to their mind earlier enough that many more group and diabolical sect will emerge from every nook and cranny of nigeria. What is even giving this barbaric sect the guts to demand for such compensation after they'v e finish wasting inocent lives.
The last attack on th UN office in Abuja displayed the height of their viciuosness and wicked that has x-rayd the level of insecurity in nigeria to the world @ large. The government shud 4gt abt negotiation and make sure this sect compensate the families of their victims with the 100 million they are demanding for.
GEJ a message for you. Bow to their whimps and caprice watch other terrorist group pop up across the nation.ke sure this sect compensate the families of their victims with the 100 million they are demanding for.
GEJ a message for you. Bow to their whimps and caprice watch other terrorist group pop up across the nation.

Thank you tunnytox. For the typical Nigerian, and this is a discomforting trend, it's faster to beg than prevent the problem in the FIRST PLACE through the ways you listed: investment in security, education, infrastructure, etc. The thieving leaders too know this and would rather stifle issues by 'addressing' a few of the spokesmen of the aggrieved group instead of investing in infrastructure.

Why not put them on 65k monthly salary and send some of them abroad for training like the Niger delta youths ?