Nigerian government welcomes Islamist ceasefire offer

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AFP) - Nigerian Vice-President Namadi Sambo said on Saturday that his government is ready to consider a ceasefire offer by the extremist Islamist group Boko Haram.

Mr Sambo, speaking during a visit to the northeastern city of Maiduguri - the Islamists' stronghold - said "we welcome the ceasefire offer announced recently by the Boko Haram group and we will do everything as a government to see that we achieve a lasting peace in Nigeria."

Since 2009, violence linked to Boko Haram's insurgency has claimed some 3,000 lives, including killings by the security forces. A recent ceasefire proposal, made by a man claiming to represent Boko Haram, received a lukewarm reception in Nigeria.

Although the army welcomed the offer by Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idriss, he may be an impostor, and violence has not ended since his announcement.