They’re working on “earning the trust” of the jihad murderers. This would be funny, but people are getting killed, and Western governments are following the same feckless and ultimately suicidal pattern of action. “Nigeria: Boko Haram Committee Plays Down Kano Bombing, Promises ‘Data’ Showing Progress,” by Talatu Usman for the Premium Times Nigeria via AllAfrica.com, July 31:
The presidential committee said it will release data showing it remained in touch with Boko Haram.
The presidential committee pushing for a negotiated deal with the violent sect, Boko Haram, has downplayed Monday’s bombing that killed scores in Kano, promising new “data and fact” that will show gains it achieved with the extremists, as the panel’s work faces increasing doubt.
The Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, who heads the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges, said the blast in Sabon Gari area of Kano State, which killed at least 20 people, was carried out by “those who do not wish the country well”, and did nothing to detract from the gains made by the committee.
Mr. Turaki said his panel had spent time making contacts, building confidence and earning the trust of some of the key figures of the group, and getting to engage in critical discussions which will not only lead to full ceasefire but also to disarmament.
“Of course the issue of disarmament has to be handled properly by the appropriate organs because as a committee, we are not professionals. So what we can do is to broker the arrangement to the level where appropriate authorities, whether they are military, police or combination of both will now have to take the front seat and be in charge of the issue of surrender of arms and disarmament but as far as we are concerned we are making a lot of progress in this direction,” the minister said.
The renewed spate of killings, allegedly by Boko Haram, has cast a pall on the self-claimed successes of the committee in achieving a peaceful settlement that will bring to end years of deadly violence by Boko Haram….
No kidding, really?