"WE are seeking forgiveness from the people over the number of people
killed in the country. I appeal to those who lost their loved ones to
our activities to forgive us and on our side we have forgiven all those
who committed atrocities against us. I want to state clearly that we
have no hands in the unfortunate attack on the secondary school.”
With these words, Imam Muhammadu Marwana, an influential member of
the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram sect, on Monday confirmed a ceasefire
agreement with the Federal Government to end their deadly activities
across most states of Northern Nigeria, which have claimed about 4,000
lives and destroyed properties worth billions of Naira since 2009.
The agreement came exactly 82 days after the Federal Government
raised a 25-man committee to work out modalities for granting the
amnesty to the sect.
Also, the Federal Government has confirmed that it had signed a
ceasefire agreement with the militant group. Minister of Special Duties
and Chairman of the Peace and Dialogue Committee in the North, Alhaji
Tanimu Turaki announced the ceasefire agreement on the Hausa service of
Radio France International in Kano.
The announcement came on the eve of the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan expected to start Wednesday.
President Goodluck Jonathan's Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki said:
“We have sat down and agreed that Jama’atu Ahlul Sunnah Lidda’awati
wal Jihad, known as Boko Haram will lay down their arms as part of the
agreement so as to end the insurgency. Government agreed with ceasefire
and will look into ways to ensure that the troops relax their activities
till the final take off of the ceasefire.”
Confirming the truce, Boko Haram agent, Imam Muhammadu Marwana,
said: “This ceasefire, in sha’Allahu, from the time I am talking to you
(Radio France Hausa Service) we have ceasefire because of the discussion
held so as to have peace over this struggle.”
Sounding apologetic during the Radio news, Imam Marwana declared
that “I appeal to those who lost their loved ones to our activities to
forgive us and on our side we have forgiven all those who committed
eatrocities against us”
