- When it didn’t work out, we cannot go and punish Idriss Debby… Dasuki
- Chad, we believe, has some links with the leadership – Dasuki
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki said to the UK in a lecture at the Chatham house:
On ceasefire with Boko Haram:
Not too long ago, government came up with a statement that we are entering into a ceasefire with Boko Haram. That came up about because two letters were written to the Chadian president by people who are supposed to be Boko Haram leaders and Chad, we believe, has some links with the leadership. The Chadian president approached us because our president was in Ndjamena. We met and he said this is the situation and that they want to talk; they want a ceasefire and we said we are interested. If we can solve it by peaceful means why not. We did not seek out those leaders. The Chadians were the intermediaries. At the end of the day, it didn’t happen. That is what it is. It was not as if we sought them out. But as we speak, there is a committee of continuing dialogue and for any of the insurgents who want to come over to renounce violence and come over to the government side, there is a committee chaired by the minister of Special Duties to address that.
Yes we are looking at the issue of financing. In fact we have some international help with financing of terrorism especially Boko Haram.
—
On why nobody was punished for the botched ceasefire with Boko Haram:
The ceasefire offer went to the President Idriss Debby of Chad. President Debby because he’s a friend or concerned reached out to our president and said look I have this offer my people deal with them. I think it is credible to listen to it. And that was what we did. When it didn’t work out, we cannot go and punish Idriss Debby for something that if it has worked out we would have been grateful. I believe we would keep trying until we find the one that would work out.
On taking the fight to the Enemy:
I believe there is a mix up here. Gwoza is in Nigerian soil and we are fighting with Nigerian troops. I don’t see the issue here. Taking the fight to them, if they are Baga, if they are in Gwoza or Bama and we are there. That is what it is we are taking the fight to them. I hope that answers the question.
The joint force, there are various meetings just like you mentioned. There was a meeting in Niamey. The headquater of that one will be in Ndjamena. I don’t know what that one is supposed be personally as Nigerians we don’t see the uses. We have a multi-national taskforce that was headquartered in Baga people did not contribute much to. We had Chadian troops who were in Chad, Niger troops were in Niger and Cameroon never cross the border. People didn’t do much because they were all supposed to be stationed there. This is probably the same thing that is being pushed by some other countries but this time they are moving the headquarters to Baga. That’s all I know. I don’t know anything about the structure.
