20110625
Allafrica
Lagos — The Police Command in Maiduguri, Borno State, has called on Boko Haram, the extremist Islamic sect blamed for a series of deadly attacks in northern Nigeria to declare a ceasefire and come to dialogue.

This came as former Inspector General of Police, Chief Sunday Ehindero, and former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav, called for improved intelligence as a way of combating the new wave of terrorism creeping into the country.

Boko Haram, which claimed responsibility for last week's bombing of the national police headquarters in Abuja, has staged most of its gun and bomb attacks in Maiduguri.

Borno State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar issued a statement late on Thursday asking "members of the public" in the state to "eschew violence, sectarian killings and vandalism."

Although he did not specifically mention Boko Haram by Abubakar confirmed to AFP yesterday that "it is a peace overture specifically aimed at members of Boko Haram sect."

"The doors for dialogue and constructive criticism with the Borno State Government remain open," said the statement.

The attempt at dialogue came a day after Nigerian police chiefs met in Abuja following the June 16 bomb attack on the police headquarters.

The sect said the Abuja attack was in response to Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim's remarks that "the days of Boko Haram are numbered."

Ehindero said the police must be properly equipped in order to face the challenge posed by extremist groups such as Boko Haram. Said Ehindero: "Once a criminal knows that if he commits a crime, it will be difficult for him to be apprehended, he will not only continue but also invite others. I'm afraid that if all these things are not put in place in this modern day, it will be difficult to fight the menace in the country."

He also canvassed for better living condition for all Nigerians in order to stem the wave of crime in the country: "Some basic provisions must be made available to the citizens. With this, I mean, there should be food security, environmental security and employment for the youths.

"Can you just imagine a Nigeria Police without a standard forensic laboratory; no DNA equipment with modern day scientific aid? If there is any investigation that requires all these, which is the case with virtually all investigations, we have to travel abroad to unravel the mystery.

Ehindero was a bit cautious on the issue of dialogue with the sect.

But Tsav is however in agreement with moves to dialogue with Boko Haram. He told THISDAY in an interview Friday night that the only way out of the crisis "is to dialogue and make them (Boko Haram) feel wanted among us."

Tsav said: "The solution is simple, if federal government could negotiate with Niger-Delta militants, why should they not negotiate with Boko Haram sect and give them amnesty. They are causing the same havoc in the country. May be if they bring them into the mainstream of scheme of things, the sect may lay down their arms.

"You see, the entire problem started when security agencies caught and killed the leader of the sect in the full glare of the world. He was killed and nobody asked any question. Also, remember that the leaders of the security team in the state were all Christians. So, you see the crisis is that of revenge on security people and the government."

Newly-elected Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima had earlier offered an amnesty to sect members who choose to lay down arms, an overture that won the backing of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Boko Haram had said it was ready to cease-fire and enter into talks with the government, setting conditions which included the strict application of Sharia law in 12 predominately Muslim northern states.

As part of its overtures to Boko Haram, the police announced on Thursday that the seven police officers and men charged with the killing of the group's leader, Mohammed Yusuf will appear in court in Abuja next month.

Police spokesman Olusola Amore, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said having been charged with "unlawfully killing of one Mallam Mohammed Yusuf and his followers," they will face prosecution at a Federal High Court in Abuja on July 13 and 14.

Amore said the suspects were first arraigned in a court in February and that they pleaded not guilty.

Yusuf was shot dead in July 2009 during one of the uprisings orchestrated by the Boko Haram.

The group called for the prosecution of the alleged killers of its leader as one of the conditions for peace.

The sect has been behind a wave of attacks in northern Nigeria targeting police and military personnel, community and religious leaders, and politicians.

It has also claimed responsibility for bomb attacks on police stations, churches and a prison.