Are Boko Haram’s Conditions for Ceasefire Realistic? Arrest of Former Borno Governor | Selects Members of Mediation Group | Dialogue in Saudi Arabia

Just a few days after unleashing a blood attack on a Catholic Church in Kaduna state, members of the radical Islamic sect, Boko
Haram, say they are ready to ceasefire and have
listed some conditions.
They include the arrest and prosecution of the
former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali
Modu Sheriff. Channels TV reports that one Abu
Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz who claimed to be one
of the leaders of the Islamic sect, made it known
that the group will call for a ceasefire if the federal
government arrests and prosecutes the
immediate past governor of Borno State.
The group also insisted that the dialogue must
not take place in Nigeria, but Saudi
Arabia. According to him, the choice of Saudi
Arabia was informed by the insincerity of the
Nigeria government for dialogue and its betrayal
in the past.
The Boko Haram spokesman further demanded
that, all their members, who were arrested and
are under the custody of security agencies must
be released immediately, just as their wives and
children who were displaced following the crises
should be rehabilitated into the society to allow
room for the much talked about dialogue with the
Federal Government.
He also mentioned that five of its members have
been mandated to liaise with five members of
Borno Elders to find ways of meeting the federal
Government to end the insurgency.
He listed the Nigerian mediators to include Alhaji
Shettima Ali Mongonu, General Muhammadu
Buhari (Rtd), Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim,
Ambassador Gaji Galtimari and Barrister Aisha
Wakil and her husband.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to President
Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Reuben Abati told
Channels TV that the President has gotten their
offer and said it was a welcome development.
Now let’s recap their demands again: They want
the former Governor of Borno state arrested
because they claim that while he was in office, he
sent securities to arrest and kill most of their
members while practising their religion; they
want the release of all their members in prison.
They also want the mediation to take place in
Saudi Arabia and they have listed the names of
those they want present at the mediation.
It is understandable that a lot of blood has been
shed and as Nigerians, we just want this over and
done with. But what do you think about their
demands? Are they realistic? Should the Federal
Government succumb to their demands in order
to stop the bloodshed?