On Monday, July 8, 2013, Nigerians received news of the highly anticipated ceasefire by Boko Haram with a high sense of regard and mixed feelings. Most people questioned the sincerity of the sect while others cast their doubts on the capacity of the Federal Government amnesty committee to actually sauce out something meaningful out of the negotiations.

In an interview with Radio France Hausa service, on Monday July 8, Imam Muhammadu Marwana, the newly acclaimed spokesman of the Shekau-led Boko Haram sect said they had signed a ceasefire agreement with the amnesty committee under the chairmanship of Alh. Tanimu Turaki who also doubles as Minister for Special Duties. During the interview, Imam Marwana took advantage of the lavished impunity of the system to forgive the government and the Nigerian people for the injustice meted out to them (for a moment, he sounded like Bode Geoge to me). He also sought forgiveness from Nigerians and other citizens of the world that they had killed, maimed or disadvantaged.

On Monday, July 8, 2013, Nigerians received news of the highly anticipated ceasefire by Boko Haram with a high sense of regard and mixed feelings. Most people questioned the sincerity of the sect while others cast their doubts on the capacity of the Federal Government amnesty committee to actually sauce out something meaningful out of the negotiations.

In an interview with Radio France Hausa service, on Monday July 8, Imam Muhammadu Marwana, the newly acclaimed spokesman of the Shekau-led Boko Haram sect said they had signed a ceasefire agreement with the amnesty committee under the chairmanship of Alh. Tanimu Turaki who also doubles as Minister for Special Duties. During the interview, Imam Marwana took advantage of the lavished impunity of the system to forgive the government and the Nigerian people for the injustice meted out to them (for a moment, he sounded like Bode Geoge to me). He also sought forgiveness from Nigerians and other citizens of the world that they had killed, maimed or disadvantaged.

His tone during the interview was as though Boko Haram’s offence was as insignificant and inadvertent as hitting a dog on the road by accident. I couldn’t even tell what he was forgiving Nigerians for, but for the record, since its sudden explosion in 2009, Boko Haram’s related attacks and incidences have left no less than 4,000 people dead, thousands more injured and hundreds of thousands displaced and hopeless. We have no idea how many more people are still on Boko Haram’s death row or how many places they have yet to attack. The ceasefire agreement being touted gives the impression that both the Federal Government and Boko Haram have an aggressive might. Although I am not a soldier, my understanding of a ceasefire does not include a situation where one party is being overpowered by the other. At that point, it is no longer a ceasefire, it is called on unconditional surrender. For those of us who were not alive during the Nigerian Civil War, History has taught us that the Biafrans surrendered when they saw that they were being subdued. Let me quickly add that it was in spite of the fact that the Biafrans were fighting a just course. The Federal Government should be wise enough to renege that agreement because: It is beyond mere coincidence that the agreement came in almost at the eve of the Holy Month of Ramadan, since all members are devout, it will only be reasonable for them to observe their obligations of the Holy Month. I remember clearly that in the Ramadan month of 2010 & 2011, Plateau recorded its most peaceful period of the year. There is the likelihood that the ceasefire is temporary pending the duration of the Holy Month. No offence meant, but I feel this is the period in which the insurgents would be at their lowest ebb thus creating an opportunity for the soldiers to uncover them. Yes, It sounds inhuman to attack a hungry an unarmed offender but that is what they do to their innocent victims in schools, worship centres and other public

The agreement came exactly 82 days after the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution was inaugurated. At this point, I don’t just smell a big rat, I smell an Elephant. There is a looming impression that these 25 guys created a smokescreen to disguise the fact that they were unable to achieve much within the 90 days that they were given. This was the same committee that claimed they met with Kabiru Sokoto in prison, a claim kabiru Sokoto denied, and they also pushed for the release of Boko Haram’s relatives hoping it would bring them out of their hiding places but to no avail. Finally, in order to save their faces from shame, they came out with the Nollywood blockbuster; ‘The Ceasefire’. If not, when has Iman Muhammadu Marwana replaced Muhammed Ibu Abdulazeez, the real spokesman for the Boko Haram sect? Where is shekau in the whole motion picture? I don’t believe that there can be any truce between Boko Haram and the Federal Government without Shekau on the negotiation table. And who else is responsible for the killing of 30 students in Yobe State apart from Boko Haram? Had these 25 people attained 90 days without achieving anything, or even staging a drama, the bulk of the shame would fall on the Sultan, Northern council of chiefs, Northern Governors and the Arewa consultative forum. Alas, they held on to an end-of-the-hour lifeline.

Let us not also forget that a peace deal was brokered on Jan, 28 2013 after a marathon meeting between leaders of the group, Governor Kashim Shetima of Borno State and some other top government officials. The peace deal barely survived a forth night and now we are here again, should we still believe the words of Boko Haram or Government? Government on her own part has a bad reputation for not honouring her side of the bargain. I take ASUU strike for example. On the other hand, none of Boko Haram’s demands is sensible. The state of emergency declared on Yobe, Borno and Adamawa State has in no small measure weakened the might of the sect. Their training ground in Mali is currently under fire and the borders around their regions are being more secured, which leaves them with no room but to surrender. If they insist on the ceasefire then the federal government should reduce them to zero.

Lastly, it is quite interesting to note that Youths, especially Borno youths are living up to their responsibilities in fighting Boko Haram by their coinage of he term ‘civilian JTF’. These boys are fed up with the activities of the sect and now attempt to rid society of these bad eggs through communal security efforts. Apparently, hiding places are elusive for the Boko Haram members so they are left with the option of surrendering or die fighting. Moreover, Britain has enacted a law which defines Boko Haram members and sponsors as terrorists liable to face punishment, America is coming up with similar laws in no distant time. If we concede to this ceasefire agreement now, Boko Haram will grow again like bacteria, and when it does, I am afraid we will no longer be able to contain it.

By Bizum Yadok

Bizum is a social affairs analyst and political commentator who writes for ViewPointNigeria from Jos.

Note: The views expressed in this article are wholly those of the author and do not represent the opinions of ViewPointNigeria

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No ! Not a cease fire: Boko Haram should surrender by Bizum Yadok