"Boko Haram, Give Peace a Chance" - Northern Governors

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has appealed to members of the Boko Haram sect to give peace a chance, saying that "reverting to attacks and other acts of violence after an offer of amnesty by the Federal Government will not advance the course of peace".
 

Babangida Aliyu, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, said Friday the renewed violence, which hit parts of Borno and Yobe States on Thursday, "negated all efforts to restore peace to the region".

In Abuja, via the statement signed by Mr. Aliyu's spokesperson, Danladi Ndayebo, the Forum expressed serious concern at the fresh wave of attacks which left policemen dead and buildings destroyed in Bama in Borno State and Gashua in Yobe State.

The Forum described the deaths of the policemen as "a great national loss", calling the deceased "heroes who died in the course of service to their fatherland". The participants prayed to God to grant repose to their souls and give their families and friends the fortitude to bear the loss.

The statement urged the military, the police and other security agencies not to be discouraged by the dastardly act, adding that "Nigeria would forever remain grateful to security agencies for the successes recorded so far in the war against terror".

The forum reiterated its commitment to continue to work closely with the federal government in finding a lasting solution to the security challenges confronting the nation.