Boko Haram demanded the release of nearly 100 of their men who are currently held in detention. This is an unacceptable starting point in any eventual negotiation. We all know what happened when a Boko Haram activist was released from detention following pressures from various quarters - he later became the brain behind the first bombing of Nyanya motor park in the outskirts of the federal capital, Abuja, which claimed dozens of lives. At this point, Boko Haram believes it has the upper hand and so can dictate the tune. For any meaningful negotiation to take place, the Federal Government must first regain the military initiative and break the backbone of Boko Haram.
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