Cease-fire: Atiku urges Boko Haram to embrace peace

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has called on Boko Haram members to disarm totally and permanently in the spirit of the Ramadan fasting period that begins in the country today.

In a goodwill message to mark the beginning of the 30-day fasting by Muslims, the former vice president appealed to the insurgents to permanently abandon any form of violence against innocent people.

Atiku described Islam as the religion of peace, saying violence could not be a permanent alternative to conflict resolution in society. He, however, urged the Federal Government and the military to adhere strictly to international best practices and conventions on engagement even as it wages the war against the insurgents in the affected areas.

The Turaki Adamawa said enough blood of innocent people had been shed and urged the Boko Haram leaders to search their conscience and save the country from further deliberate destruction of lives and property.

He advised the sect to embrace dialogue and disarmament to save the nation “this needless violence against innocent people.”

“Deliberate violence against innocent people cannot be justified under whatever circumstances and it benefits nobody,” he said.