‘Buhari has no business dialoguing with Boko Haram’

Some residents of Borno on Monday cautioned the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari against rushing into dialogue with Boko Haram in a desperate attempt to end their violent campaign.

Those who spoke with NAN in Maiduguri on Monday advised government to concentrate on military action against the insurgents.

Shieikh Musa Usman, a Maiduguri-based Islamic scholar, advised government to equip the military with the necessary weapons to face the insurgents instead of considering dialogue option.

“We heard in the media that government was considering a dialogue option with the insurgents following the recent spate of attacks in the North east,” he said.

“Why should government dialogue with individuals who are only interested in killing and maiming innocent people? Is government saying that it cannot continue with the current anti-insurgency war or what?

“Why must we be talking about dialogue when our neighbours are already dislodging the insurgents from their countries?”

Usman urged government to copy from the recent actions of the Chadian and Nigerien governments in dislodging the insurgents from their countries.

Goni Yahuza, another Islamic scholar, described the act of negotiating with insurgents as a sign of weakness.

“I do not support the idea of dialogue with Boko Haram because there is nothing to dialogue about. In the first place, I do not think that the group has something to talk about apart from violence,” Yahuza said.

“Government must deploy all resources available in ending the insurgency within a reasonable time. I believe that the Nigerian military has all its takes to crush the insurgents; what they need is proper motivation for the task. Government must strive hard to ensure that it puts an end to the insurgency in a short while.”

Alhaji Mohammed Mala, a businessman, commended the gallant efforts of the Nigerian military in fighting insurgents, and urged them to do more to win the war.