Boko Haram Commander Declares Ceasefire, Read their Press Release

After about three years of attacks on security formations, public and worship places, the Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram, on Monday agreed to cease fire.

The commander who identified himself as Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez spoke to journalists in Maiduguri, where the Islamist sect got its start.

In a statement released to journalists, the group has advised its members to lay down their arms and also given security agencies the go ahead to arrest anyone that violates it.

The statement reads;

“I, Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, is  the 2nd Commander- in-charge of southern and northern Borno after Imam Abubakar Shekau of Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihadotherwise known as Boko Haram. 

“For sometime now,  we the members of Jamaatul ahlil Boko Haram sunna lidawati wal jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram have recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of Borno State where we resolved that given  the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to cease fire.

“We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau, as well as some of our notable followers agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children are suffering unnecessarily; hence we resolved that we should bring this crisis to an end.

“We therefore call on all those that identify themselves with us and our cause, to from today(Monday) lay down their arms. Let every member who hears this announcement relay it to the next member who hasn’t heard. 

“We have met with the Borno State Government on two occasions and the fallout of the meeting was  to cease fire. Presently, we are going to comply with the ceasefire order and by the time we are done with that, then  security agencies could  go ahead and  arrest whoever they find carrying arms or killing under our name. We are very much aware of the fact that some criminals have infiltrated our movement and continued attacking and killing people using our name. 

“Of course, there is a faction within us, but the larger faction of our movement is the one in support of this ceasefire move. Moreover, once top members of our group, including Imam Abubakar Shekau, are in support of the need for ceasefire, other smaller factions can be dealt with easily. 

“This message, by the Grace of Allah, comes directly from the office of Imam Abubakar Shekau, the supreme leader of Jamaatul ahlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad.”