Boko Haram Rejects Ceasefire Agreement with Nigerian gov’t

KABUL: (Middle East Press) Boko Haram Takfiri insurgents have denied claims by the Nigerian government about a recent ceasefire agreement that would ease the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the group.

In a video released on Friday, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau rejected the Nigerian administration’s truce announcement as false and ruled out future talks with Abuja over the issue.

“We have not made ceasefire with anyone. We did not negotiate with anyone. It’s a lie,” Shekau said.

On April 14, Boko Haram militants abducted 276 students from their secondary school in the northeastern town of Chibok in Borno state, triggering worldwide outrage. Reports say 57 of the girls managed to escape but 219 are still missing.

The Nigerian government announced on October 17 that it had secured a ceasefire deal with Boko Haram over the release of the schoolgirls.

The Boko Haram leader, however, said that the abducted students have converted to Islam and have been married off since being kidnapped.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden”, says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.

Since beginning its operations in 2009, the militant group has claimed responsibility for numerous deadly gun and bomb attacks in various parts of Nigeria which have left more than 10,000 people dead so far.