By Ene Osang
Abuja
The Arewa Youths Integrity Forum has described the latest video of Boko Haram claiming it hasn’t surrendered “as the handiwork of some selfish Nigerians who are determined to ensure that the insurgency continues.”
Addressing journalists in Abuja, National President of the Group, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar said it was obvious that there was a crack within the ranks of the Boko Haram terrorists, judging from recent video released by the sect,
“The war entrepreneurs that defrauded the Goodluck Jonathan administration to the tune of billions of Naira with the claims of negotiation and ceasefire are back to their game of wanting to keep exploiting Boko Haram for monetary gains,” Abubakar said.
He said the Armed Forces acted in good way to have dismissed the indirect call for a truce with the insurgents, but pressed on with President Muhammadu Buhari’s orders, as Commander in Chief, to wipe out the terrorists.
He said: “They will use the two videos as compelling argument to draw the federal government into engaging them as brokers and will thus pocket the proceeds of the media they had carefully set up. The nation must not be led down this path again.
“The intention would be for the Federal Government the Army to become complacent and engage in premature celebration of a seriously battered Boko Haram and consequently slowing down the offensive against the murderers who will then have time to regroup and receive arms and logistics to take on the military.”
He appealed to the Federal Government and leadership of the Army to avoid being lure into false negotiations by the insurgent in order to prevent mistakes of the previous administration that was tricked into a deal with paid actors while the terrorists continued on rampage.
“The only surrender that Nigerians will recognise is that of Boko Haram members or leaders that surrender or hand themselves to our troops. Surrendering by video or any other indirect methods is not acceptable,” he said.