BBC (Nigeria) – President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest wave of killings by Boko Haram in Borno State, describing them as inhuman and barbaric.

His special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina spoke to BBC’s Focus on Africa’s James Copnall.

He says they are open to negotiations.

The Federal Government has said that it is open to negotiations with the Boko Haram sect in order to find a lasting solution to the security crisis in the country, if the group is willing.

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Friday, in an interview with theBBC.

In the interview, which was monitored by our correspondent, Adesina said the Federal Government was not ruling out negotiations with the sect if it would put an end to the activities of the group. He lamented that the insurgents had attacked so many villages and killed scores of people.

“These were very vicious attacks. People were killed in scores and it’s so sad,” he said.

The President had during his inauguration speech said he had launched a strategy to deal with the sect by relocating the military headquarters to Maiduguri, Borno State.

When asked whether this would work, Adesina replied, “This is going to work. There are machineries being put in place. It’s going to work. The recent killings by the sect were meant to break our resolve, to weaken it, but that will stop. It remains a priority to him (Buhari) to deal with the group.

“You will notice that his first two weeks of administration were dedicated to tackling the insurgency. He visited Chad and Niger Republics and the following week, the Presidents of those countries also visited him in Abuja.

“The President of Benin Republic and the Defence Minister of Cameroon visited him; machinery is being put in place and once we’re through, we will see the end of the group. The target time for the deployment of the multinational force is July ending; that is in a couple of weeks.”

When the BBC also asked if the Federal Government was considering negotiations with the insurgent group, Adesina replied in the affirmative.

He said, “If they are willing, why not? You know attempts have been made for negotiations in the past and they didn’t work. Every reasonable person would want to see the end to this insurgency. So if they are willing, why not? You can’t rule that out.”

HungerBAD:
In a Civilized world, that is what leaders do and that is NEGOTIATE. We cannot kill or wish Boko Haram away, nice move PRESIDO.

EMERITUS85:


but American dont negociate with terrorists

HungerBAD:
In a Civilized world, that is what leaders do and that is NEGOTIATE. We cannot kill or wish Boko Haram away, nice move PRESIDO.

Uchan4u:


What do u know about civilisation? Where on earth do people engage terrorists in negotiations?

HungerBAD:
In a Civilized world, that is what leaders do and that is NEGOTIATE. We cannot kill or wish Boko Haram away, nice move PRESIDO.

barcanista:
Which civilized country negotiate with terrorist? You de talk nonsense with due respect

HungerBAD:


I have to copy and paste this from an earlier reply, to somebody that asked the same question.

And contrary to your beliefs or what you think you know. All Western Countries engage in negotiation with terrorists, but they do it through a third party country. For exampe, all negotiations between between IRAN and the United States is handled by a THIRD PARTY country Switzerland.

PFC Bowe Bergdahl, was a US Army held captive by the Taliban. His release was negotiated by Qatar. A little schooling or reading about INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS will broaden your horizon on how DEVELOPED Government works, and not the fire approach applied by past Presidents of Nigeria.

Buhari is on the RIGHT PATH.