LAGOS: Nigeria's Islamist militant faction Boko Haram has ended peace talks with the central government on Wednesday, arguing that the government “was not” sincere in its efforts. The move comes just days after the chief of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Ibrahim Datti Ahmad – who was trying to bridge the gap between the violent Islamist sect and the government – said he would no longer continue as mediator. Ahmad expressed “anger and disappointment,” when he pulled out on Saturday, charging that the government was leaking content of the negotiations to the media. Abul Qaqa, a spokesman for Boko Haram, said in a teleconference with journalists in the northern city of Maiduguri that the collapse of Ahmad's efforts vindicated the group. “Almighty God has told us repeatedly that the unbelievers will never respect the promises they made. As such, henceforth, we would never respect any proposal for dialogue,” said Abul Qaqa. “In fact, we have closed all possible doors of negotiation. We would never listen to any call to lay down our arms.” The spokesman said his group had only agreed to enter talks at the behest of the Supreme Council for Sharia. Earlier this week, a Boko Haram spokesman told Bikyamasr.com that indirect talks with the group “were going nowhere” and blamed the federal government for its inaction. “They know our demands and what we want. They have then turned around and said if we put down our weapons they will talk more openly about possibilities. It's lies,” continued the spokesman in a phone conversation. Despite the obvious animosity between the two sides, Boko Haram said it was willing to commit to a ceasefire. “We told them our demands for this and now it is up to them,” added the spokesman. Government sources told Bikyamasr.com that the militant group said it would abide by a three-month ceasefire if all its members are released from prison. “We can't do that, these people are charged with murder,” said the source, on condition of anonymity. The situation appears to have hit a stalemate, but the spokesman said the group will “always give ear to the government. “There is no need for this violence. We want an Islamic state and that is the solution,” the Boko Haram said. Boko Haram have taken responsibility for a number of bomb attacks on Christian churches across the country since a Christmas Day bombing left dozens of people killed. The government has promised to crackdown on the group and has deployed military units across the country in an attempt to curtail the Islamic group's activities, arresting and killing a number of members in recent weeks. Violence blamed on the militant group, who has called for an Islamic state in Nigeria, has since mid-2009 claimed more than 1,000 lives, including more than 300 this year alone, according to rights groups. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/IZts0 Tags: Boko Haram, featured, Government, Nigeria, Talks Section: Latest News, Nigeria, Religion, West Africa
