‘Shekau’ denies ceasefire deal with FG in new video

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau yesterday dismissed
claims about ceasefire talks between his group and the
government, even as Federal Government officials are now
trading blames over the phantom ceasefire deal brokered by
the President of Chad, Idriss Déby.
A new Boko Haram video obtained by AFP yesterday
showed militants on an armoured vehicle parading down a
road in an unidentified town they apparently control and the
group’s leader Abubakar Shekau preaching to the residents.
Boko Haram had already renamed Gwoza in Borno as Darul
Hikma or House of Wisdom and Mubi in Adamawa as
Madinatul Islam which means City of Islam.
In the 44-minute video, Shekau, who is pictured in close-up
shots dismissed government claims about ceasefire talks
and threatened to kill the man who presented himself as
Boko Haram’s negotiator.
The video, which was delivered through the same channels
as past messages, shows armed men lined alon
g a well-paved road, with three pick-up trucks, with heavy
weapons also visible.
Black crested flags associated with the Islamist group are
also shown.
In the video, Shekau restated a call he first made in August,
saying, “We have indeed established an Islamic caliphate.
To everyone living in Islamic Caliphate, we convey our
greetings,” he said, specifically mentioning “brethren” in
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Shishan (an Islamist
term for Chechnya), Yemen, Somalia and “The caliphate in
Iraq and Syria.”
A graphic shown later includes a picture the IS group’s
leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as well as a portion of the
message his group issued on July 1, proclaiming a
caliphate in Iraq and Syria.
How Chadian President fooled Nigeria on phantom Boko
Haram ceasefire
Meanwhile, it was gathered yesterday how the Federal
Government was taken for a ride by the president of Chad,
Idriss Deby over the phantom ceasefire deal with Boko
Haram
A source, who was involved in the negotiations told online
news medium, TheCable that the Federal Government was
still uncertain if the dummy was deliberately sold to Nigeria
by Déby or if the Chadian president himself was hoodwinked
into believing it was genuine.
Déby was said to be working for Boko Haram as he has
refused to communicate with Nigeria since the insurgents
renewed their attacks.
“Nigerian government officials no longer have access to
Déby, who is now said to be sick. It appears he set us up to
drop our guard and allow Boko Haram to gain ground,” the
official said.
A man claiming to be the general secretary of Boko Haram
named Danladi Ahmadu, had told the Voice of America on
October 17 that the government was negotiating with
representatives of the group.
Alex Badeh, an air chief marshal and chief of defence staff
later addressed the media asking Nigerians soldiers to
cease fire because of the “agreement”, which he said
included releasing the 219 Chibok schoolgirls in Boko
Haram captivity.
TheCable also reported how Déby put the deal together,
revealing how he said Boko Haram got in touch with him,
how he authenticated the message and how he got the
Nigerian government involved in the negotiations. A
journalist with links to the group had however described the
claim as “shadows and bubbles” and warned Nigerians not
to believe it.
Not long after that, Boko Haram became more ferocious in
their attacks, taking over more Nigerian towns, including
the country home of Badeh.
A government official, who spoke with TheCable pointed
accusing fingers at Déby, accusing him of setting a trap for
Nigeria.
According to the source, “The period of the phantom
negotiations gave the terror group time to regroup, reinforce
and restrategise, which is the intent of Déby for asking the
Nigerian government to negotiate a ceasefire with Boko
Haram. As soon as Nigeria began to make a lot of gains in
the war against Boko Haram, owing to the efforts of the
military and President Goodluck Jonathan, who has been
discussing with regional leaders to halt the insurgency, and
at a time the commanders of the sect were being rounded
up, that was when the Chadian president approached the
Nigerian government asking that it mediates between the
parties in the conflict.
“The discussions between the government and the Chadian
president on Boko Haram started in September. However,
Déby said he was already talking with Boko Haram.
“The government was trying to verify the authenticity of
Boko Haram’s representatives in the supposed negotiations,
but Déby asked the Nigerian government to take a chance
that he had done the verification already. He affirmed that
Boko Haram’s representatives were truly standing in for the
group in the negotiations.”
It was at this stage the government nominated the principal
secretary to the president, Awwal Tukur, to be part of the
negotiations in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad.
“Tukur was the one spearheading the dialogue with Boko
Haram on behalf of the Nigerian government. He had the
first contact with group. It was still in the middle of the
supposed negotiations that Danladi Ahmadu announced on
Voice of America that the group had ceased fire. Following
the announcement of ceasefire by the group, the Nigerian
government equally announced a ceasefire on October 17
for the supposed negotiations to continue.
“A Nigerian delegation left for Chad on October 21 for talks
with Boko Haram, but the Chadian president became
evasive. The Nigerian delegation was told that Déby was
sick and that the meeting be rescheduled for October 23.
“However, on that date, the delegation was told that the
Chadian president was still sick after waiting for six hours.
The delegation made visits to Chad a number of times, but
met a brickwall.

“As Boko Haram’s resumed attacks grew in intensity, the
Nigerian government became worried. Many attempts were
made to inquire from the Chadian president, who was
supposed to be mediating between the Nigerian government
and Boko Haram, but the attempts were all futile.
“France was privy to the botched negotiations, but said
nothing just like the Chadian government.
“It became clear to the Nigerian government that Déby was
working for Boko Haram. The government of Chad has not
said a word to the Nigerian government since Boko
Haram’s resumed onslaughts. It has simply refused to
make any comment or communicate with the Nigerian
government.
“The Nigerian government has also ceased to speak with
the Chadian government on the matter since it is now clear
that Chad is working with Boko Haram.”
Monarch of captured town appeals to Jonathan
Meanwhile, the emir of Gwoza in Borno State, Alhaji
Mohammed Timta has urged President Goodluck Jonathan
to redeem his pledge on the recapture of his chiefdom being
occupied by Boko Haram insurgents for over three months.