Chibok/Dapchi: Lawyers divided over dialogue with Boko Haram

Major stakeholders in the justice sector have urged the Federal Government FG to initiate a dialogue process with Boko insurgent Haram for the release of the over 200 abducted female students in Chibok, Bornu State and recently in Dapchi, Yobe State. Ahmed Raji (SAN) said that there was nothing wrong with dialogue if only for […]

Major stakeholders in the justice sector have urged the Federal Government FG to initiate a dialogue process with Boko insurgent Haram for the release of the over 200 abducted female students in Chibok, Bornu State and recently in Dapchi, Yobe State.

Ahmed Raji (SAN) said that there was nothing wrong with dialogue if only for the sake of the innocent girls. He said the interest of humanity should be the overriding consideration, adding that the Isrealis in exchange for dead bodies often release prisoners to show the extent negotiations can go.

Another legal practitioner who chose to speak under anonymity said in the eyes of the law, it may not be encouraged to negotiate with a criminal gang, however, in stringent circumstances like Nigeria has found itself, the option of dialogue appears to be the only solution. 

“Developed countries of the world do dialogue with terrorists. We know that despite all the noise and the volte face of United States that it does not dialogue with terrorists, it still finds its way round, using established and trained negotiators to get its way in certain circumstances. So, in this case, I think FG should put aside the aspect of law and negotiate with the group at least to have the abducted girls released,” the lawyer said.

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) in a recent interview, said negotiation affords a golden opportunity, not only to negotiate the release of the girls, but to holistically negotiate amnesty and halting of the horrific insurgency and bloodletting that have claimed over 20, 000 lives and wanton destruction of houses, Schools, Churches, Mosques, public buildings, bus stops, etc. 

He pointed out that negotiating with Boko Haram will not amount to negotiating out of fear. It is simply an irritating sacrifice to be made to justify the sanctity of the lives of these young, innocent souls.  

He said it was unthinkable that some people would want the lives of these innocent future of Nigeria to be wasted on the alter of government grand standing and engagement niceties.

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Okey Wali (SAN) also urged the Federal Government to engage Boko Haram insurgents in dialogue to achieve meaningful peace and progress in Nigeria.

“There is need to engage the insurgents to facilitate truth and reconciliation that would stop the intransigence of the group, leading to the much-desired peace.

The Obama administration in the U.S. exchanged five Guantanamo Bay detainees for one American Sergeant. It took the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which was brokered by then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to resolve the Ireland Revolution Army, IRA, insurgency in the U.K. 

Dialogue with insurgents, according to Max Ogar is not something any responsible government should do. He said; “I do not subscribe to any negotiation with the insurgents especially, negotiation that will be based on prisoner swap.”

Anthony Agbonlahor, an Abuja based lawyer said that negotiating with Boko Haram is an admission of failure. What happened to the recommendations of the various committees on Boko Haram?

Renowned security expert Dr. Ona Ekhomu advised the Federal Government to maintain healthy skepticism over the dialogue option. He said that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau does not have a track record of honesty and had previously used deception in running terror campaigns against innocent citizens and could therefore not be trusted to keep his promise to release the abducted school girls if Boko Haram detainees were released by the Federal Government.

Dr, Ona Ekhomu said that the military “should not be discouraged that the enemy has now chosen to attack soft targets such as schools, markets and rural communities. He said this was a sign of desperation and weakness.  He urged the military to redouble their efforts in eliminating the scourge of Boko Haram in Nigeria.  

“Boko Haram should not be allowed to threaten the West African sub-region,” he said.