Nigerian government meets with Boko Haram

The government of Nigeria met last week with leaders of Boko Haram to discuss an end to the growing violence against Christians by the Muslim terrorist group.

"BH (Boko Haram) has mentioned a conditional ceasefire but it wants all its members released from prison. The government sees this as unacceptable but is willing to release foot soldiers," a traditional leader and civil rights activist involved in the talks told Reuters, asking not to be named. 

"It is the first time a ceasefire has been mentioned, so it is a massive positive, but given the lack of trust a resolution is still a way off," he added [more].
 

Boko Haram has supporters in government, military and security forces

The President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has warned that the threat posed by Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram may be more serious than initially thought because it has supporters both within the government - in every branch - and within the military.
President Jonathan warned:

Some continue to dip their hands and eat with you and you won’t even know the person who will point a gun at you or plant a bomb behind your house.

Speaking with Agenzie Fides, he warned that the present situation is worse than that of the civil war that lasted from 1967-1970:

 During the Civil War, we knew and could even know on which side the enemy came from... but the challenge we face today is more complicated.

Following an order from Boko Haram for Christians to leave the north of Nigeria, His Excellency the Most Reverend Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos, does told Agenzia Fides he does not think Christians in the north are fleeing at the moment, but he does have fears for the future:

"At the moment I do not think there is a massive movement of Christians from the north, except in areas where several people were killed, in which the frequency of violence was very intense," said Bishop Kaigama. "In these areas the Christians, especially those from the south, as the Ibo people, are deeply anxious and are preparing to return to their home areas".

Archbishop Kaigama is also worried because even the Muslims who live in the south are affected by the climate of violence. "I have just returned from a visit in southern Nigeria. Even there, the Muslims, who are from the north, are deeply concerned and are preparing to return to the north". "It is, in my opinion, a very dangerous development."

Update:

Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, warned President Jonathan that the present state of affairs is "beyond your powers" in a video posted on YouTube.

Boko Harams orders Christians to leave the north of Nigeria

His Excellency the Most Reverend John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, has asked Nigerians to ignore a recent threat made by the Muslim terrorist group Boko Haram responsible for the deaths of at least 200 people following a series of five bomb attacks at Christian churches on Christmas Day.

Following President Goodluck Jonathan's declaration of a state of emergency, a spokesman for Boko Haram demanded, under threat of death, Christians to leave the north of Nigeria.  The "southerners" in the north have three days to return to the south.

Noting that Boko Haram does not speak for all Muslims, Archbishop Onaiyekan said:

First of all, I think I will be right to say that Boko Haram does not represent the authentic voice of the Muslims of Nigeria. The leaders of Islam in Nigeria have clearly disowned them. So, I do not know what has given them the feelings that they can speak on behalf of all Nigerian Muslims, or northern Muslims, let alone giving instructions to them to do anything.

He also said,

I believe firmly that, whatever desire to drive a wedge between Christians and Muslims may be, the fact is that the attack has rather brought us together since Muslims have been showing us expressions of condolences and sympathy, and they have been condemning what has happened. 

Nigerian President declares state of emergency following Islamic attacks against Christians

After visiting St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla just outside the capital city of Abuja, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency following the recent bomb attacks - a series of five - by Muslims against Christians on Christmas Day that left more than 200 people dead.

As part of the emergency efforts, parts of Nigeria's borders will be closed and a counter-terrorism taskforce will be established.

Following President Jonathan's (who is a Christian from the south of Nigeria) election last April violence errupted leaving more than 500 people dead.