The pan northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum, has reiterated its call on the Boko Haram sect to embrace dialogue to end the years of killing and maiming of the people of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
Rather than the current renewed onslaught on the insurgents by the Nigerian military and its counterparts from Chad, Niger and Cameroon, the ACF said it was better for the Boko Haram members to enter into dialogue with the Federal Government to end the bloody crisis.
The Forum, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, in Kaduna on Friday, described Thursday’s bomb attack on Biu market in Borno State by the insurgents as “wicked”.
It called on the security agencies to intensify their onslaught on the insurgents, noting that a situation whereby about 10 local government areas in the state (Borno) were still under the control of the sect was worrisome.
The ACF said, “It is really disturbing that despite the security measures being deployed by the government, the situation in Borno State, where up to 10 local government areas are still under the control of the Boko Haram insurgents is worrisome.
“Once again, we call upon the Boko Haram insurgents to embrace dialogue as the only civilised way to address their grievances rather than killing innocent souls.
“The news of the suicide bomb blast that occurred on Thursday afternoon at the Biu market, Borno State, was shocking and unbelievable. It was wicked, barbaric, gruesome and condemnable, considering the innocent people killed and injured by the suicide bombers.
“Equally disturbing was the arrest of other two female bombers, who wanted to carry out another dastardly bomb blast. But for the vigilance of the security agencies and the civilian Joint Task Force, it would have been another disaster.
“Biu emirate has enjoyed relative peace compared to the other local government areas of Borno State that have been under the control of the insurgents.
“This is largely due to efforts of the military and the civilian JTF that have maintained joint operations and shared intelligence to repel many attempted attacks on Biu town”.
