Meet The Man With The Contacts of Key Boko Haram Members

'I’ve Contacts Of Boko Haram Members For Dialogue' – Dasuki

National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), on Wednesday in Jos said he had contacts of key Boko Haram leaders for possible dialogue with the Islamic fundamentalists, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.


Dasuki, who met with stakeholders in Plateau State, said he was planning to meet with Boko Haram on the need to stop their attacks and engage the government in dialogue.

He said, “I was in Yobe and Borno states last week and I have got the telephone numbers and contacts of key Boko Haram members and I will meet with them.

“I saw the dangerous effect of Boko Haram in these states and what I saw was pathetic.

“But I have the mandate to put heads together with religious and traditional leaders as well as the state governments to ensure an immediate ceasefire.”

He expressed confidence that the violence in Plateau State would be a thing of the past.

National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd)

The NSA added, “I have a stake in Plateau because I have lived in Pankshin and Jos when my father resided here. So if we lived peacefully way back then, it is possible to go back to those good old days.

“Before now, it is difficult for me to believe that you can see a Fulani and Berom man together on the street of Plateau fighting.

“But the presence of various ethnic and religious groups at this parley is a pointer to the fact that we want to forge ahead.”

Dasuki assured the people that the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in some local government areas in the northern states would not be renewed.

He said, “So far, I have seen the negative effects of the state of emergency in Yobe and Borno states especially; personally, I do not support the issue of state of emergency.

“My intention is to work with governors towards addressing all these problems; they are the Chief Security Officers of their respective states. Our job is to complement; if there is peace, there would be less burden on Abuja. We will not work with individual but the governors.”

Governor Jonah Jang regretted that the emergency rule in the state had not achieved the intended effect as the attacks on the affected local government areas had continued unabated.

On dialogue with Boko Haram, Jang said it was difficult to dialogue with the group since its leaders and members were not known.

He therefore urged the group to come out and identify itself.

He said, “We only hear that Boko Haram claims responsibility for this and that attack but we never heard anybody coming out to say he is Boko Haram.

“We know the Niger Delta militants had leaders and a cause they were fighting for which made late President Yar’Adua to succeed with the amnesty programme but, who is Boko Haram?”