Group asks FG not to dialogue with Boko Haram

The Patriotic Alliance of Nigeria, PAN, an association of opposition political parties, yesterday said the Federal Government must not allow itself to be seen as being intimidated by the Boko Haram.

The National Coordinator of PAN, Chief Maxi Okwu, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos against the backdrop of reports that the sect has vowed to fight on until its demands are met, rejected the recommendations of the Amb Usman Galtimari committee, which urged the Federal Government to dialogue with the group.

In its report, the committee had recommended that government should consider dialogue and negotiation with Boko Haram, which should be contingent upon their renunciation of violence and surrender of arms.

It recommended that the action should be followed by a rehabilitation programme on the side of government.

Okwu said: “Nigeria must be careful not to allow the sect to rubbish it before the international community.”

He said that anyone involved in terrorism must be brought to book in line with the global fight against terrorism.

“This is not to say that those involved in the killing of the leader of the sect without due process should go free. They must be brought to book”.