The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the Federal Government for entering into a ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram which has tormented the people of the North-East region in the last five years.

In a press statement he issued in Abuja, National President of NANS, Usman Tijani Shehu, also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the courage and the conviction that Nigerian must have peace rather than have war. He encouraged government to continue with the agreement despite of the recent attacks in some communities in Borno State.

Since the insurgents had expressed the desire for peace, government must take advantage of the offer by playing along, NANS said. “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) commends the efforts of the Federal Government for agreeing with the Jama’atul Ahalis Sunna Lida’awati, popularly called the Boko Haram, for a ceasefire,” Comrade Shehu said.

The NANS Leader said that he hoped the sect would keep to the agreement, urging the government not to relent in its efforts to improve security in the country.

“We are happy with the ceasefire, although, we heard some reports suggesting attacks by some suspected insurgents lately,” he said. “We believe it is only a faction that is not interested in the peace process. We believe that those interested in peace are in the majority. Government should also be sincere in dealing with the insurgents to ensure lasting peace.”

Comrade Shehu hoped that the ceasefire would eventually lead to the release of the students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, and others captured and kept by the insurgents.

“We assume that the Chibok girls and other people in their captivity are alive and well. We pray that the offer for ceasefire will be adhered to in order to have the abducted ones released and an end brought to the insurgency ravaging Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and other parts of the country.”

“We are very sure that with what President Jonathan is doing on security, terrorism will soon become history in Nigeria,” he said.

•Photo shows NANS President, Comrade Tijani Usman Shehu.