Bomb blast kills 32 in Zaria

He said the recent slew of Boko Haram bloodletting – some 350 people killed in the past nine days – is consistent with past ratcheting up of violence as the militants seek a stronger negotiating position.

According to AP, Presidential adviser Femi Adesina said on Saturday that the government had not ruled out further talks with the militants.

He said that Nigeria will mobilise to deal with Boko Haram because no religion allows anyone to kill in the name of Allah. “If anything, I thought it would spiral up because this doesn’t appease them – they are trying to send a message that there may be new players in the presidency, but Boko Haram is a potent threat”.

Nigerian concerns came to a tipping point on April 14-15, 2014, in the town of Chibok when militants kidnapped more than 270 girls from a boarding school. Dozens escaped early on, but 219 remain missing.

Global human rights lawyer Nina Shea, the director of the U.S.-based Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, told The Christian Post on Thursday that the Nigerian government should jump on this opportunity to secure the girls’ freedom.

He added that his presence also reflects the commitment of President Barack Obama and the United States to strengthening the partnership between the United States and Nigeria and to advance a more secure, prosperous, and peaceful future for all of Nigeria’s citizens.

He said relations had broken down with his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, but Mr Buhari could approach Boko Haram with “a clean slate”.

“Consequently, security cordon was established in the general areas especially along Bauchi, Gombe and the North Eastern part of the country by troops of 3 Division and Special Task Force, as well as the Department of State Services”.

In March past year, a prominent Salafist cleric who had criticized the group was shot dead with his wife and son as he drove home from teaching a theology class.

One of the founders of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign group told the BBC that “there was no time left” for the government to act.

Ogebe believes “the military advantage has gone to Boko Haram“. Some have become sex slaves, while others are used as fighters, according to former captives. The terror group, based in northern Nigeria, had just carried out attacks on northeastern Nigerian villages that claimed the lives of over 150 people – mostly Muslims.

Buhari, who vowed to personally head the fight against Boko Haram, also said the attacks all the more emphasise the need for an expanded multinational army to defeat the group.