NO MORE DIALOGUE WITH FG - BOKO HARAM

4 feared dead in Kano
By NDAHI MARAMA
MAIDUGURI - FOLLOWING alleged insincerity of the Federal Government towards the peace deal being brokered between it and the Boko Haram Islamic sect to end violence in the country by President of National Supreme Council on Sharia, Dr Datti Ahmed,  the sect's spokesman, Abu Qaqa, said yesterday that his group will continue with their terrorist activities to ensure strict imposition of Sharia across the country.

This is coming against the backdrop of reports that men of the Joint Task Force, JTF,  in Kano State engaged suspected Boko Haram sect members in a gunfight early yesterday evening in the Sharada area of Kano metropolis.  Residents said the sect members rode to the Freedom Radio junction on motorcycles attacking soldiers in the area. Four people were reportedly dead from the attack.

Briefing newsmen in Maiduguri through telephone conferencing, Qaqa described as unfortunate, the collapse of the dialogue.

He said following intervention from some notable individuals whom the group had respect for,  the leadership agreed to enter into dialogue for ending their terrorist activities, adding, however, that after heading their plea to engage in dialogue with the Federal Government, it soon discovered that the government was trying to play on their intelligence.

He said: 'This is an important message on the issue that occupied the media in respect of negotiations between our group and the government. Not long ago, President Goodluck Jonathan made a public statement urging us to come forward for dialogue. He also said we should make our demands clear with a view to resolving the protracted problem in the country.''

According to him, the first condition given by the group was the need for unconditional release of all their detained members.

Qaqa pointed out that it was during an initial meeting between their group and the government to end the bombings and killings that one of their members, Abu Dardaa, was arrested in Kaduna, adding that since then, the group never trusted the government.

He, however, said the group's decision to give the dialogue a second chance, followed endless pleas by some notable Nigerians, whom they have enormous respect for.

'These people said they would intercede between us and the government, they said they have the capacity and we trusted them, unfortunately however, the opportunity was messed up.

''Almighty God has told us repeatedly that the unbelievers will never respect the promises they make. As such, henceforth, we would never respect any proposal for dialogue'. Qaqa added.

Continuing he said, 'In fact, we have closed all possible doors for negotiation. We would never listen to any call for negotiations. Let the government forces do whatever they feel they can do and we too would use all the wherewithal at our disposal and do what we can.'

Qaqa added that if the government thought that arresting their members would discourage them from launching further onslaught on the people, 'let them continue arresting and killing them' but pointed out that the sect members strongly believed that Almighty Allah will give them the power to catch and prosecute government forces.

He said: 'We are optimistic that we would dismantle this government and establish Islamic government in Nigeria. Let the Federal Government and its agents do what they can; and we, in return, would also do what we can. The noble Prophet Mohammed was also tried and tested during the war of Uhud, he persevered and at the end of the day, he emerged victorious.

'The fact is that, we do not have an element of doubt in our minds that one day, we would surely emerge victorious from this onerous encounter,' Qaqa noted.

The group, therefore, urged ''all Muslims in this part of the world to accept the clarion call and fight for the restoration of the Caliphate of Usman Danfodio which the white man fought and fragmented. The white man killed prominent Islamic clerics and emirs and also replaced the white Islamic flag with the Union Jack. 'We want all our people to come together and restore our lost glory.'