Nigeria's military 'welcomes' Boko Haram ceasefire - The military Joint Task Force (JTF) fighting the violent Islamic sect Boko Haram in Nigeria's northern state of Borno has welcomed the ceasefire declared by the sect Monday.
'The ceasefire is a welcome development,' said JTF spokesman Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa. 'But...the JTF will still remain vigilant and continue to maintain law and order as well as to protect lives and property.'
A man claiming to be the spokesman for the sect, Mohammed Abdulaziz Ibn Idris, had told journalists in the state capital, Maiduguri, earlier in the day that the ceasefire, which takes effect Monday (28 January), was ordered by the sect's leader, Abubakar Shekau.
PANA could not confirm the authenticity of the claim.
Since launching its violent campaign in 2009, following the killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, by the police, the sect has killed over 3,000 people in gun and bomb attacks, mostly in the predominantly Muslim northern Nigeria.
There are fears, however, that the factionalisation of the sect may render the ceasefire ineffective.
Pana 29/01/2013