WUNRN
Nigeria & Boko
Haram Allegedly "Agree to Ceasefire & Abducted Schoolgirls Release"
17 October 2014 - "If it turns out to be true, this will be
one of the biggest breakthroughs in
The group has been fighting an insurgency since 2009, with some 2,000 civilians reportedly killed this year.
Boko Haram sparked global outrage six months ago by abducting more than 200 schoolgirls.
The girls were seized in the north-eastern town of
Members of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign said in a tweet on Friday: "We are monitoring the news with huge expectations."
'Cautiously optimistic'
Air Chief Marshal Badeh revealed the truce at the close of a
three-day security meeting between
Nigerian
presidential aide Hassan Tukur told BBC Focus on Africa that the agreement was
sealed after a month of negotiations, mediated by
As part of the talks, a government delegation twice met representatives of the Islamist group.
Mr Tukur said Boko Haram had announced a unilateral ceasefire on Thursday and the government had responded.
"They've assured us they have the girls and they will release them," he said. "I am cautiously optimistic."
He said arrangements for their release would be finalised at
another meeting next week in
The negotiations are said to have the blessing of Boko Haram
leader Abubakar Shekau, reports the BBC's Chris Ewokor in
Boko
Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in Hausa
Speaking to the BBC, Nigerian government spokesman Mike Omeri said Boko Haram would not be given territory under the ceasefire agreement - and that the government would not reveal what concessions it would make.
"We are inching closer to release of all groups in captivity, including the Chibok girls," he said.
Nigerian officials had not given any indication that
negotiations with Boko Haram were taking place. Even though there had been
rumours of talks in neighbouring
If this turns out to be true it will be some of the best news Nigerians have heard for decades.
Many Nigerians are extremely sceptical about the announcement, especially as there has been no definitive word from the jihadists.
Some question whether the announcement was in any way timed to coincide with the imminent announcement that President Goodluck Jonathan is going to run for re-election.
The military has in the past released statements about the
conflict in north-east
So many here will only celebrate when the violence stops and the hostages are free.
In May 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan imposed a state of
emergency in the northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, vowing to crush
the Islamist insurgency.
But Boko Haram increased its attacks this year.
The group promotes a version of Islam which makes it
"haram", or forbidden, for Muslims to take part in any political or
social activity associated with Western society.
It frequently attacks schools and colleges, which it sees as a symbol of Western culture.
Human Rights Watch has reported that 2,053 civilian were killed in the first half of the year, while Amnesty International estimated that 4,000 people were killed in violence - including Nigerian military operations - in the first seven months of 2014.
Boko Haram is seeking to establish an Islamist state in
Eight
In July,
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