BOKO HARAM DENIES TALKS WITH FG
Jama'atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda'awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, has denied media reports that the sect was engaged in a dialogue with the federal government.
The sect, in a press statement issued to reporters in Maiduguri, disowned the story credited to a renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, who at a press conference announced that he was interceding on behalf of the federal government in talks with the sect.
According to the leader of the sect, Imam Abu Muhammad Abubakar Bin Shekau, the group would never resume dialogue, stressing that they would soon dismantle the federal government and establish Sharia system in the country.
The group, which claimed responsibility for the killing of retired DIG Sale Abubakar Ningi in Kano on Tuesday, also threatened to continue to attack top government officials in the country with a view to bringing an end to un-Islamic governance in the country.
The statement written in Hausa and signed by the spokesman of the group, Abul Qaqa, reads in full: 'This is a response to the story we read in the media that our group, the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda awati wal Jihad, would 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 Sheikh to steer clear because he is highly revered in the society and must remain as such.
'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 were no talks or dialogue between us and anybody or group since the time that Dr. Ibrahim 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.
'We also want to bring to the notice of the general public that, on Tuesday, operatives of the JTF had made attempt to waylay some of our brethrens at Kawarmaila area of Maiduguri metropolis. As Allah pleased, 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 (Wednesday) to collect the corpses of their people, they clamped down on the civilian population and burnt many houses in order to vent their frustration.
'However, we want to appeal to the peaceloving 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 establish Sharia system which will be full of fairness and justice.
'As Allah pleases, we have succeeded in killing retired DIG Haruna Ningi in Kano on Tuesday. We want to reiterate that we would intensify our searchlight on all who-is-who in the present dispensation until we eliminate all of them.
'We are also sending red signal to all media houses who relentlessly gave prominence to what Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi said in respect of the purported dialogue to accord similar treatment to what we said.
'Any media organization that failed to give us the right of reply should 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.'