Sultan of Sokoto: “Why Federal Government Should Negotiate With Boko Haram”

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to negotiate with Boko Haram insurgents for the release of Chibok girls abducted over a year ago. The Sultan, who spoke when he hosted members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Sokoto and Kaduna States, said, “We should do whatever it takes to restore peace in this country.” Citing an example with the United States of America which negotiated with Taliban and agreed to the release five of their top commanders for one American soldier, the Sultan said Nigeria could also do the same for the release of Chibok girls, “because every life is sacred”.

He further said, “We are all suffering from the terrible consequences of terrorism. Muslims and Christians are being killed, just as churches and mosques are being bombed. When I advised former President Goodluck Jonathan to dialogue with Boko Haram, a lot of people criticised me that I was supporting dialogue with ghosts, but since then, nothing has changed. Are we now ready to dialogue with ghosts? The ghost that are killing us everyday, destroying our mosques and churches, shedding innocent blood”.