To Parley or To Confront

That is the question which begs an answer in the current security system around the world, whether or not to negotiate with terrorists to bring lasting peace to a region.  This is especially so on the lips of many Nigerians in the midst of the devastating terrorist activities carried out by the Boko Haram Sect. Plainly, all over the world these terrorists are seen as bad people and we have observed firsthand the harm and damage that they are capable of. From the subway bombings in England, car bombings in Iraq to the tragedies on 11^th September 2001, clearly when they want something, they will do anything to get it, not minding taking innocent lives in the process.

Negotiations are an assertive, strong, moral gesture, not an indication of weakness, should the Nigerian government engage the sect in peaceful talks it only indicates Nigeria’s stance in peace keeping as against the use of military might. Dialoguing with terrorist may save lives which value can never be placed on. The US government has never successfully negotiated with terrorists both in news and even in movies.  Most countries like the US also have a do not negotiate with terrorists/criminals policy.

Hoffman suggested that the U.S. should not just use military might but must also fight a 'war of ideas.' He calls this "countering the continued resonance of the radical's message and breaking the cycle of terrorist recruitment." This includes trying, for example, to figure out how to deal with Al Qaeda and other jihadist groups' use of the internet to showcase their activities and promote their ideas. Tactical measures to send the message to the terrorist group that their actions are endangering the masses and showing the weaknesses and vulnerability of the Nigeria security system to the world.

Why can’t the Nigerian government take the concept of diplomacy even further? By using social networks and the media to get across to this sect to establish contact and find a common ground. Why not go straight to dialogue and negotiate with the head of the Boko Haram? Lay out the people and the government’s demands on the table and see whether a diplomatic solution to quell violent conflict can be laid out. This is best in order to solve the problem right now to prevent the generation yet unborn from inheriting the same political instability we find ourselves in.

However, in a March 2007, the Director of the Centre for Defence Studies at King's College, Peter R. Neumann, gave fundamental arguments on reasons why democracies should not negotiate with violent non-state actors like the Boko Haram. "Democracies must never give in to violence, and terrorists must never be rewarded for using it. Negotiations grant legitimacy to terrorists and their methods and undermine actors who have pursued political change through peaceful means. Negotiations can destabilize the negotiating governments political system, undercut international efforts to outlaw terrorism, and set a dangerous precedent."

Another strong reason why negotiating with terrorist may be futile is that there is no way to enforce a truce with a terrorist group. The difficulty of enforcing a truce may not unique to Boko Haram, as the Spanish experience with ETA in late 2006, also the back-and-forth tug between Israel and Hamas. Engaging this terrorist group only shows signs of weakness by the Nigerian government and gives them a sense of confidence, as we see today were the sect denies negotiation and mocks the Nigerian government by carrying out their activities on national holidays, time and places of worship, media houses and diplomatic consular just to make their point

I would like to conclude by saying that the policy of a government must be strong and send the right message, the stance of the Nigerian government should be to declare an intention to resolve the conflict in the northern part of Nigeria and put an end to it before it spreads to all parts of the country. Such intention should carry a willingness to negotiate and dialogue if need be, and the empowerment of the military arm to engage this terrorist group to end this unrest.   

Ohiri Emmanuel