BREAKING: Boko Haram splits into 2 Factions over Peace with Presidency

Following the ceasefire deal the Federal Government entered into with Boko Haram, the violent sect has split into two. While one faction wants peace, the other doesn’t.

It was gathered on Sunday that the Federal Government might have entered into the ceasefire with only the faction interested in the cessation of hostilities in the North-East.

"The Boko Haram faction that carried out the attack is the one that wants the insurgency to continue. It is made up of hardcore elements who believe their goal of imposing Sharia on the whole country has not been achieved and for them, the violence must continue until they win the war or perish in their quest."

A reliable source in government told PUNCH in Abuja that the leaders of the pro-peace faction of the sect were the ones who took part in the negotiations with representatives of the Chadian, Cameroonian and Federal Government in Ndjamena last week.

FG and Boko Haram reps are expected to finalize the ceasefire at another meeting on Tuesday.

The source said he believed the attacks on Shafa in Borno State and Sina, Adamawa State on Friday, could have been carried out by the faction not be interested in ending the violence.

There had been reports of disagreements among the top members of the sect following the clamour by some of its commanders for an end to the insurgency.

A yet to be verified report had said some sect members died a few weeks ago in a shoot-out between the pro-peace and the pro-Jihad factions.

Nigerian military is however keeping its side of the peace deal by suspending all hostilities against the insurgents, PUNCH learnt.

This, according to a top military source, was a direct outcome of a directive issued by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh. He had on Friday ordered the suspension of all on-going aerial and ground offensives against the sect.

“One cannot say the peace deal has been violated; it is the nature of most terrorist organisations to act that way, and it should be expected because they have several layers of operation. They have such a long chain that it takes time for them to communicate with the top unlike the military where you are very quick communication channels.

“Another thing is that each of the cells operates independent of the other. So those who carried out the attacks in the villages in might not even be aware of the deal,” the source added.