Two factions of terror group Boko Haram are willing to meet with the Nigerian Government, Abdulkadir Abubakar, a former commander of the group has claimed.
Abubakar, also known as Abu Muhammad, was the chief intelligence officer of the Boko Haram group, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
He was arrested in June by Nigerian troops in Buni Yadi, Gujba, Yobe State.
Abubakar told NAN at his cell in Maiduguri that Albarnawi and Mamman Nur factions of Boko Haram were willing to dialogue and cooperate with the government to defeat the most visible leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau.
“Albarnawi has indicated interest to dialogue with the government to end insurgency and provide a lasting solution to the crisis. Albarnawi discusses this with members of his circle. And I can assure the government that he would cooperate to achieve peace,” he said.
“The two factions are willing to cooperate with Nigerian Government to defeat Shekau,” he said.
Abubakar’s claim about the readiness of the factions to dialogue with the Nigerian authorities could not be verified as he had been incarcerated since June.
However, he insisted that the groups are predisposed to a peaceful resolution of the eight year-old crisis.