A statement by the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the campaign and signed by Mallam Garba
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]Shehu said that the Jonathan government got it wrong on the curious silence over the botched deal.
“For the sake of Nigerians who may have lost their recollection of this epic national scandal called a [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10”]
‘ceasefire deal’ with Boko Haram, it is important to quote the government officials and remind them of the promises they made to free the Chibok girls under that phantom truce.
“On October 17, 2014, the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh excitedly told an expectant nation that a deal had been reached with Boko Haram, which included not only a ceasefire, but also the immediate release of the kidnapped Chibok girls within a week. He said: ‘… I wish to inform this audience that a ceasefire agreement has been concluded between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ahlul [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10”]
Sunna Li Daawa Wal Jihad (Boko Haram). I have accordingly directed the service chiefs to ensure immediate compliance with this development in the field.’
“A previously unknown man called Danladi Ahmadu was widely reported by the international media as being the contact person between Boko Haram, Chad and Nigeria. But within 24 hours, the Boko Haram putative leader, Abubakar Shekau, released a video message through the French news agency (AFP), denying any ceasefire deal and repudiated Danladi Ahmadu, the so-called Boko Haram representative at the ceasefire talks.
“Ironically, while Air Marshal Badeh was directing service chiefs to enforce the “ceasefire immediately”, the Boko Haram terrorists launched simultaneous attacks on towns and villages, including Badeh’s hometown. The Boko Haram had not only discredited the ‘ceasefire’, but also vowed to continue their terrorist campaigns.
This purported ‘ceasefire’ had brought instant ray of hope to the families of the Chibok girls, currently being held hostage by the terrorists. Sadly, their hope had evaporated after it became evident that the ‘ceasefire’ was a hoax after all. There were also reports that Nigeria had lost millions of dollars to the fake peace deal.
“What is more shocking, however, is that since the collapse of the so-called truce with Boko Haram, the federal government has maintained sealed lips, despite repeated reports that Nigeria had been conned into the ‘ceasefire’ deal.
“Rather than coming clean to tell Nigerians what happened, the Jonathan administration feels it owes the citizens no explanations. Is this the character of a democratic government? Why the government did announce a unilateral ceasefire without any assurance of the workability of the deal (if it had ever existed)?