BOKO HARAM STRIKES EVEN AFTER CEASEFIRE DEAL

Just before signatories to a cease-fire deal that was long in coming left the room with smiles on their faces Friday, members of the Boko Haram, same day, attacked villages in Borno State, in Nigeria’s troubled North-East zone, killing at least eight, according to reports on Saturday evening.


Abadam Village was said to have been attacked on Friday night, killing at least one person, while Zhur in Hawul Local Government Area came under the insurgent’s fire power Saturday morning according to Channelstv.com, leaving at least seven people dead. There also reports of an attack on Shaffa also in Hawul LGA, and Abadam, a border town, located about 200km north of Maiduguri, displacing several people.Another report put the number of those killed during the attacks at about 40, including the father of the former Speaker of the Borno state House of Assembly, Goni Ali Modu.The attacks confirmed fears among many Nigerians who called for caution, following the announcement of ceasefire between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram insurgents on Friday.Speaking with Sunday Independent, a cross section of military officers and soldiers, expressed hope that the truce signals the return of peace and stability to the country’s troubled North-East geo-political zone after five years of insecurity, urging both sides to keep their parts of the bargain.But while some Nigerians have cheered the development, other have urged the Federal Government to tread cautiously. Nigeria’s military chiefs, however, say they are aware of the antics of the sect, and are conscious of any eventuality.Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, and Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mike Omeri had announced the ceasefire in separate events in Abuja on Friday.On his part, Omeri stated: “We can confirm to you that there have been contacts between the government and representatives of Boko Haram.“The discussions are essentially in relation to the general insecurity in the north east and also the need to rescue all captives of the terrorrists, including the students of Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok. From the discussions, they indicated their desire for and willingness to discuss and resolve all associated issues.“They also assured that the school girls and all other people in their captivity are all alive and well”, he stated.Meanwhile, international newswire, Reuters, on Saturday, quoted a Presidency source as assuring on the back of the over cease-fire deal that the 200 girls abducted from GSS Chibok by Islamist militants, could be freed Tuesday, while declining to comment on where the transfer would take place.“I can confirm that FG (the Federal Government) is working hard to meet its own part of the agreement so that the release of the abductees can by effected either on Monday or latest Tuesday next week,” the source told Reuters by telephone.Officials at the presidency and the military did not immediately respond to a request for comment, just as Boko Haram, which conveys messages in videotaped speeches by a man claiming to be its leader, Abubakar Shekau, has also not yet commented on the ceasefire.A military man, who spoke under condition of anonymity told Sunday Independent that the truce was not totally unexpected, given the fact that the Boko Haram sect had suffered so much losses in the past weeks, in addition to the killing of Shekau, which they have vehemently denied.He siad, “We are conscious of their antics so we are just watching out how it will turn out because it depends on the level of keeping promises. Only the people talking to you know you, you don’t know them. We know that there is serious problem within the Boko Haram rank because they suffered much losses. So we will just watch out.”Another officer who also craved anonymity, noted that while the ceasefire was a good omen, the military would not relent and would remain prepared just in case, members of the sect spring up surprises.“Yes, we welcome the ceasefire and look forward to all parties keeping their parts so that peace can return to the north east but that is not to say we are relenting. Anyone that comes our way will be gone if they fail to keep their own part,” he stressed.While also expressing hope in the ceasefire, a soldier who spoke also under anonymity, however lamented that the deal was coming after so many lives had been lost to the carnage“The ceasefire is good but we are wary of these people, besides they know us, we don’t know them. Whatever turns up, we are ready. The only regret is that so many people have been killed already but that is our pledge, to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria against all odds,” he said.Reacting to the deal, Professor of Counselling and Correctional Psychology, Oyesoji Aremu, of the University of Ibadan, on Saturday warned the Federal Government and the military authority against celebrating the ceasefire agreement.Instead, Aremu wants the government and its collaborators to exercise great caution, even while admitting that the development was a welcome move on both sides.“In war situations, ceasefire is a norm. The practice is to explore the possibility of negotiations with a view to reconciling warring parties. With that insight, Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria can be likened to a war situation in the last three years, with ceaseless bombings and annexing of towns and villages in Adamawa and Borno states and declaring same as caliphates”.However, Nigerians have expressed doubts over the sudden announcement of a ceasefire with the sect by the government without any indication that negotiations with Boko Haram were taking place.Some respondents who spoke to Sunday Independent are quick to link the deal to announcement of President Goodluck Jonathan’s much expected 2015 re-election bid.But the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has applauded the agreement to end the spate of insurgency in the North East zone.The ACF’s statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ibrahim, made available to Sunday Independent on Saturday, expressed confidence that the renewed attempt to end insurgency in the North East and other parts of the country would yield the needed result  to end insurgency in the country.