The hierarchy of the Boko Haram Islamist sect on Monday confounded the public and indeed some of its own members when it announced a ceasefire in Borno State.
Making the announcement on behalf of the team, Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez said the peace move was the result of meetings with the Borno State government, which highlighted the unnecessary sufferings of the people.
He called on every member of the group to pass the peace message to others; and acknowledged that although the sect is fictionalized, the peace move is the initiative of the larger faction, meaning that the smaller faction would be easily conquered in the event of a resistance.
Below is the full statement, as obtained by Huhuonline.com, read by Abdullaziz, accompanied by another member of the sect.
“I, Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, the 2nd Commander in charge of southern and northern Borno after Imam Abubakar Shekau of Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram. For some time now, we the members of Jamaatul ahlil Boko Haram sunna lidawati wal jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, have recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of Borno State, where we resolved that given the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to cease fire.
“We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau as well as some of our notable followers agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children, are suffering unnecessarily; hence we resolved that we should bring this crisis to an end.
“We therefore call on all those that identify themselves with us and our course, to from today lay down their arms. Let every member who hears this announcement relay it to the next member who hasn’t heard.
“We have met with the Borno State government on two occasions and the fallout of the meeting is to cease fire. Presently, we are going to comply with the ceasefire order and by the time we are done with that, then government security agencies can go ahead to arrest whoever they find carrying arms or killing under our names. We are very much aware of the fact that some criminals have infiltrated our movement and continued attacking and killing people using our names.
“Of course there is a faction within us, but the larger faction of our movement is the one in support of this ceasefire move. Moreover, once top members of our group, including Imam Abubakar Shekau are in support of the need for ceasing fire, other smaller factions can be dealt with easily.
This message, by the Grace of Allah, comes directly from the office of Imam Abubakar Shekau, the supreme leader of Jamaatul ahlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad.”
