The Boko Haram insurgency group has denied entering into any ceasefire agreement with the Federal Government, describing reports of a secret truce and an alleged N5 billion ransom payment as false.
In a seven-minute video released on Sunday, a man identified as Mallam Abdulrahman, who spoke in Arabic before switching to Hausa, claimed to be representing Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal Jihad (JAS), the Boko Haram faction led by Abu Umaima, also known as Bakura Doro.
Abdulrahman repeatedly dismissed reports of a ceasefire as a “lie,” insisting that the group had neither negotiated with the government nor authorised any reconciliation agreement.
The statement came days after reports emerged that the Federal Government had allegedly brokered a temporary ceasefire with insurgents to facilitate the release of civilians abducted in Ngoshe, Borno State.
The reports further alleged that N5 billion was paid to the insurgents as part of the arrangement. The Federal Government, however, denied making any such payment.
The Guardian had earlier contacted the Defence Headquarters regarding the alleged agreement, but the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Mike Onoja, declined to comment at the time.
In the latest video, Abdulrahman said the group only became aware of the alleged ceasefire through media reports a day or two earlier.
He accused the government of attempting to deceive Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Although he acknowledged that reconciliation is permissible under Islam, Abdulrahman insisted that no such agreement had been reached between the group and the government.
“It is not that there is no room,” he said. “We know there is reconciliation in religion. But this reconciliation that you are spreading word of is a lie.”
He also referred to the history of the insurgency, citing the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf, and former leader, Abubakar Shekau, whom he said rejected Nigeria’s democratic system and government.
According to him, the current leadership under Abu Umaima had similarly not authorised any reconciliation with the Federal Government.
Abdulrahman further warned that the group would continue to launch attacks whenever it had the opportunity, despite reports of a ceasefire.
He added that the group’s leadership and commanders had “no connection, internal or external” to the reported reconciliation efforts.
The claims have added fresh uncertainty to reports of a possible temporary truce between the government and insurgents, amid continuing efforts to secure the release of civilians abducted in Borno State.
