Nigeria: Buhari on Boko Haram

Muhammadu Buhari (army general from 1981 to 1983) had made it a priority to end the insurgency of Boko Haram, affiliated with the Islamic state (Ei ) before the end of the year.

This was during his inauguration on May 29, 2015, in Abuja.

Eight months later, despite the decrease in the number of deadly attacks, the Islamic sect is still active in many areas of the most populated country in Africa (with over 170 million inhabitants).

Several large cities of the north of the country (particularly affected) remain in the grip of violence and fear.

In late December, more than 50 people were killed in several attacks by Boko Haram in the north. Jonathan's successor merely acknowledges that the country has technically vanquished Islamist insurgents.

"I think we technically won the war because people are regaining their neighborhoods," he said.

According to the testimony of many of the people in Maiduguri, a large city in northeastern Nigeria ravaged by violence and former stronghold of the Islamist group, "The Islamic sect is still a big threat, even if the government ensures that the group has been weakened."

According to news coming from Abuja, the septuagenarian would have changed his tune and said he was ready to negotiate with "credible leaders" of the movement of Abubakar Shekau.

It includes an added bonus of obtaining the release of more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok in April 2014. "We are looking for a credible management of Boko Haram to confirm that the young girls are still alive," reportedly said the President on the occasion of a new exchange program with listeners on radio and television.

Apparently, the authorities are ready to negotiate with a credible direction of Boko Haram, for the release of these innocent girls. It should be noted that since 2009, the Boko Haram insurgency has claimed more than 17,000 deaths and 2.5 million displaced in Nigeria. For the Nigerian political analyst Chris Ngwodo, President Buhari must change strategy to defeat the Islamic sect.