Kano, Nigeria - Police in northern Nigeria's city of Maiduguri have called on an extremist Islamic sect blamed for a series of deadly attacks to declare a ceasefire and come to a dialogue.
Boko Haram, which claimed responsibility for last week's bombing of the national police headquarters in Abuja, has staged most of its gun and bomb attacks in Maiduguri, the capital of north-eastern Borno state.
Borno state police commissioner Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar issued a statement late Thursday asking "members of the public" in the state to "eschew violence, sectarian killings, vandalism."
Although he did not mention Boko Haram by name, Abubakar confirmed to AFP Friday that "it is a peace overture specifically aimed at members of Boko Haram sect."
"The doors for dialogue and constructive criticism with the (Borno) state government remain open," said the statement.
The attempt at dialogue came a day after Nigerian police chiefs met in Abuja following the June 16 bomb attack on the police headquarters.
The sect said the attack was in response to national police chief Hafiz Ringim's remarks that "the days of Boko Haram are numbered".
Newly-elected Borno state governor Kashim Shettima has offered an amnesty to sect members who choose to lay down arms, an overture that won the backing of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Boko Haram had said it was ready to cease fire and enter into talks with the government, setting conditions which included the strict application of Sharia law in 12 predominately Muslim northern states.
But it later recanted, citing Ringim's statement
The sect has been behind a wave of attacks in Maiduguri targeting police and military personnel, community and religious leaders, and politicians.
It has also claimed responsibility for bomb attacks on police stations, churches and a prison.