The Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of the Crisis in Northern Nigeria on Thursday opened talks with the Boko Haram Islamist sect, beginning with the sect’s inmates at Kuje Prisons in the Federal Capital Territory.
This followed a visit to National Security Adviser (NSA), the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Speaking to journalists at the end of the consultation, Chairman of the committee and Minister for Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki expressed hope that notes from the meeting would be useful in drawing up recommendations towards reinstatement of peace in the troubled North.
He added that the imprisoned suspected terrorists were cooperative with members of the committee but refrained from discussing details of the meeting.
“As some of you may have noticed, we have had very useful discussions with some inmates that are being held here on the allegations of being either members of Jamatul Alhus Sunnah on accounts of terrorism or acts related thereto,” he said, promising that the committee would prosecute its target with utmost sense of responsibility and honesty.
“We have resolved and we have pledged and will continue to pledge that in carrying out this assignment, we will do it with the fear of God, high sense of patriotism and nationalis,” he added.
“We shall be guided by sense of decency and the feeling of trying to ensure that at the end of the day there is more peace in Nigeria. We are still looking for ways of having constructive, honest and frank dialogue with all major stakeholders across board.”
Turaki further promised that the committee would continue seeking the support and cooperation of everyone directly or indirectly connected to the realization of its tasks.
