Boko Haram denies dialogue with govt

Boko-HramWarns Sheikh Bauchi

Claims Ningi’s killing, others

BOKO Haram leader, Imam Abu Muhammad Abubakar Bin Muhammad Shekau, has denied appointing Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi to “resume dialogue” with the Federal Government on its attack campaigns in the North.

Shekau disclosed this in a statement by the sect’s spokesman, Abul Qaqa and made available to the media in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The statement said that the sect had vowed not to resume dialogue with the Federal Government, adding that it would soon “dismantle” the Federal Government and replace it with the Sharia Legal System in Nigeria. 

Qaqa also warned the media to give prominence to the group’s rebuttal of Bauchi’s dialogue claim or risk being attacked. 

The sect also claimed responsibility for the killing of a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Haruna Ningi in Kano on Tuesday.

In addition, Qaqa claimed that Boko Haram gunmen killed no fewer than 50 soldiers belonging to the Joint Task Force (JTF) who attacked them at Kawarmaila area of Maiduguri also on Tuesday.

Qaqa in the e-mail statement, which was in Hausa, said: “This is a response to the story we heard in the media that our group, the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda Awati Wal Jihad, will commence or rather had commenced dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria through Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi. 

“We want to inform the general public that there is no iota of truth in all what was said. We also want to appeal to the learned Sheik to steer clear because he is highly revered in the society and must remain as such. 

Qaqa continued: “He should preserve and protect his integrity. He must also desist from giving room to some misguided elements to mislead and drag his name in the mud.

“We want to reiterate that there was no any entirety or talks on dialogue between us and anybody or group since the time when the Dr Ibrahim Ahmed Datti’s mediation moves collapsed.

“We have made it abundantly clear that we would never open our doors for any talks because our noble prophet (Muhammad S.A.W) said a true believer will never avail himself to be deceived twice.

Qaqa continued: “We also want to bring to the notice of the general public that on Tuesday, operatives of the JTF had made attempt to ambush some of our brethren at Kawarmaila area in Maiduguri metropolis. As Allah pleases, they did not succeed because we triumphed over them and killed over 50 soldiers. We lost only one member from our group and we believe he is a martyr.

“But in their (JTF) usual antics, when they returned to the area today (yesterday) to collect the corpses of their people, they clamped down on the civilian population and burnt many houses in order to vent their frustration.” 

The Boko Haram spokesman added: “However, we want to appeal to the peace-loving people of Borno State to persevere because by the grace of Allah, we would very soon chase away the military operatives of the infidels and established Sharia system, which will be full of fairness and justice.

“As Allah pleases, we have succeeded in killing a retired DIG Haruna Ningi in Kano on Tuesday. We want to reiterate that we would intensify

our searchlight on all of those supporting the present dispensation until we eliminate all of them. 

Qaqa continued: “We are also sending red signals to all media houses who relentlessly gave prominence to what Sheik Dahiru Bauchi said in respect of the purported dialogue to accord similar treatment to what we said.                             

“Any media organisation that failed to give us the Right of Reply would have itself to blame because we would target it even if such medium is not among the ones we earlier promised to attack. This is a warning to all radio, television and newspaper houses.”

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