APC Calls Boko Haram to Embrace Ceasefire

APC Calls Boko Haram to Embrace CeasefireThe All Progressives Congress (APC) urged Boko Haram to immediately cease all attacks and embrace dialogue in the interest of national peace and security, following what is undoubtedly a resurgence of deadly attacks believed to be perpetrated by the sect.

The appropriate statement was issued by the APC Interim National Publicity, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Warri on September 30, 2013, Monday.

The APC strongly condemned the latest of such attacks that left many students of the College of Agriculture in Yobe dead and injured on Sunday, calling the killings dastardly, senseless and indefensible.

The statement called on traditional, religious, political and opinion leaders in the affected areas to intervene urgently to end the cycle of violence being perpetrated by the sect.

“It is clear that this Boko Haram menace cannot be resolved by the government alone, hence all stakeholders must urgently intervene to complement government’s efforts to end the insurgency and get those behind it to embrace dialogue.

“There can be no justification for Boko Haram to continue to kill and maim innocent citizens, especially because the victims are not just fellow Nigerians like them, but most are actually their kith and kin,” the statement said.

The party described the continued violence by the sect as inexcusable, especially at a time that the government has offered an Olive Branch by setting up a committee to dialogue with the sect.

“We in the APC have been unrelenting in our advocacy for dialogue as a way of ending the insurgency. Fortunately, the government has also embraced dialogue, after initially resisting it as an option.

“Boko Haram should remember that they are not fighting an external war, and that their grievances, whatever they are, can never be resolved by continued killing, maiming and plundering. They must therefore put an immediate end to their cycle of violence and opt for dialogue. The longer this violence continues, the more difficult it becomes to resolve. Enough is enough!” the statement concluded.