President Goodluck Jonathan Challenged Boko Haram

The president of Nigeria has challenged the Islamist militant group Boko Haram to identify themselves and state their demands as a basis for dialogue.

Goodluck Jonathan said there was no doubt that Boko Harem had links with other Jihadist groups outside Nigeria. He said if they did not identify themselves, talks were impossible.

It comes as the leader of Boko Haram denies killing civilians in last week's Kano bombings, in which 185 people died.
In an interview with Reuters, Mr Jonathan said: "If they clearly identify themselves now and say this is the reason why we are resisting, this is the reason why we are confronting government or this is the reason why we destroyed some innocent people and their properties, why not.

"See, as a president of a country you will not preside over dead bodies. You will be a president of people who are alive. So if they clearly identify themselves then there will be a basis for dialogue."

The group has acknowledged carrying out attacks on police stations and other official buildings. But in a message posted on YouTube, Abubakar Shekau blamed the deaths of "innocent civilians" on Nigeria's security forces.

Nigeria's authorities deny the allegations.


Source: BBC News Africa