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According to a new report, the Nigerian government reached a secret ceasefire with Boko Haram in June that has held for three months.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Nigeria has been grappling with a persistent and deadly terrorism crisis primarily driven by two jihadist groups: Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Boko Haram, which emerged in 2009, is known for its extreme opposition to Western education and has historically targeted civilians, schools, and soft targets in its quest to impose a strict form of Islamic law across northeastern Nigeria. ISWAP, on the other hand, broke away from Boko Haram in 2016 following internal disputes, particularly over leadership and tactics. Backed by ISIS, ISWAP has taken a more militarized approach, focusing its attacks on government and military installations. Both groups operate primarily out of Nigeria’s Borno State, with strongholds extending into Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.
What’s going on now: First reported by The New Humanitarian, the truce was independently confirmed by three people with ties to Boko Haram, a few of them high-ranking, who expect it to be extended another 40 days. Communities around Ngoshe village in Borno State, which have been repeatedly attacked by the group, say the attacks stopped when the ceasefire began. Aid workers and residents in parts of Borno also say the violence has noticeably dropped off.
The government has never publicly acknowledged the deal exists and officially rejects any negotiation with Boko Haram, which it continues to label a terrorist organization.
The ceasefire reportedly came to fruition after negotiations to free 360 civilians who were abducted during a Boko Haram attack on a nearby army base. They were released in June after roughly 95 days, and the government credited the rescue to intelligence work by Operation Hadin Kai and the State Security Service. The New Humanitarian reports the release actually came through talks between government representatives, intermediaries and the terrorists, and included a ransom payment of 5 billion naira ($3.7 million).
The Nigerian government denies paying Boko Haram anything and says it doesn’t pay ransoms to terrorist groups, though critics have accused it of doing so before.
This all comes as Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has vowed to combat Boko Haram and recently announced 30,000 new army recruits and four additional divisions, telling the country in July that the expansion would provide the “teeth that are needed to defeat terrorism and banditry.”
