Speaking at the launch of Scars, a memoir by retired military chief Lucky Irabor, Jonathan said his administration set up several committees to initiate dialogue with the insurgents. During one of these efforts, the group named Buhari as their preferred negotiator.

Jonathan said he had hoped that with Buhari’s emergence as president, peace talks would have been easier, but the insurgency persisted. “I thought that since they nominated Buhari, he could have convinced them to surrender. But Boko Haram is still active today,” he said.

The former president described the conflict as far more complex than often portrayed. “If you interview 100 people, you’ll get only fragments of the story. I was there. We tried different strategies, but nothing worked. It’s more than hunger. The weapons they used showed there were external hands involved.”

Jonathan noted that his administration explored various military and non-military approaches, but the crisis remained unresolved. He urged the current government to consider a “carrot-and-stick” strategy.

He also reflected on the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, calling it a “permanent scar” on his presidency. He expressed hope that someday, leaders of Boko Haram would document their motivations to provide deeper insight into the insurgency.

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Boko Haram, which emerged in the early 2000s, became a major threat following the death of its founder, Mohammed Yusuf. In 2012, the group reportedly named Buhari as a trusted figure for potential negotiations. Buhari rejected the offer, accusing Jonathan’s government of trying to politicize the situation.

Jonathan concluded by urging military leaders involved in the fight to document their experiences to provide a clearer historical record.

Source: Punch