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Nigeria seeking to talks with Islamic militants
Envoys of Nigeria’s president are in negotiations with elements of the Islamist insurgency behind an onslaught of attacks that has destroyed government buildings and killed hundreds of people, according to senior officials.
The envoys have engaged with leaders of the Boko Haram militant group whom they view as less hostile, more pragmatic and harboring legitimate economic grievances, in an effort to bring a halt to the group’s attacks on the government, police and Nigeria’s Christians.
Boko Haram, based in Nigeria’s impoverished, mostly Muslim north, is seen as a loose alliance of young militants with a variety of grievances and agendas. The group is also believed to be starved for cash, in part because governors in the north have abandoned the practice of paying the militants to leave their states alone.
“Under the circumstances, if you look hard enough, you can find moderate elements you can communicate with,” said Gen. Andrew Azazi, national-security adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan.
