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The new leaders of Boko Haram (real name Jama’atu Ahlul Sunnah Lih Da’awa Wal Jihad) have made a trip to the Nigerian capital, Abuja, during which they held talks with undisclosed federal government officials, it has been reported.

“It has now come to light that Boko Haram’s leadership group sent representatives to the capital Abuja on 25 June 2013 where they revealed to the government that Shekau was no longer their leader,” according to the United States-based Huffington Post, which yesterday broke the news of the shooting and deposing of Boko Haram’s leader, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau.

It quoted Imam Liman Ibrahim, the spiritual leader of Boko Haram, as explaining that the teaching of Shekau was becoming increasingly harsh and began to depart from the Holy Qu’ran. “It was harsh, harsh, harsh,” Imam Liman was quoted as saying when explaining the reasons for the change of leadership. “The beheadings, the killings, the recent death of students ... this is not the way of the Holy Qu’ran. We could tolerate it no longer.”

Shekau had in a video released in the second week of July openly repudiated a ceasefire agreement negotiated by more moderate Boko Haram members who have been in preliminary discussions with government emissaries since declared on June 26.

The Boko Haram moderates say their decision to embrace peace is informed by the Qu’ran’s admonition to good Muslims to seek peace. Boko Haram’s violent campaign to Islamise mult-religious Nigeria has killed close to 4,000 since it was launched in 2009.

•Photo shows President Jonatha and Vee Pee Namadi Sambo with members of the Boko Haram Amnesty Committee.

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