Over 5,000 as well as their wives and children
members of the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, may benefit from the
proposed Federal Government amnesty for members of the group.
members of the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, may benefit from the
proposed Federal Government amnesty for members of the group.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that members of the Federal
Government’s amnesty committee would, among other things, recommend a phased
release of members of the sect currently in detention.
Government’s amnesty committee would, among other things, recommend a phased
release of members of the sect currently in detention.
It was gathered that children
and wives of the sect members would be released first before other detainees.
and wives of the sect members would be released first before other detainees.
This, it was gathered, would
assist the committee and the Federal Government in winning the confidence of
the sect.
assist the committee and the Federal Government in winning the confidence of
the sect.
The committee, which is to be
inaugurated on Wednesday next week, is expected to initiate dialogue with
leaders of the sect at a yet-to-be determined date, time and venue.
inaugurated on Wednesday next week, is expected to initiate dialogue with
leaders of the sect at a yet-to-be determined date, time and venue.
Saturday PUNCH also gathered that members of the group,
who earlier rejected government amnesty plans, have yet to make public
their response to the latest development.
who earlier rejected government amnesty plans, have yet to make public
their response to the latest development.
A top security source, who
pleaded for anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue, said,
“Some wives, children and relatives of members of the sect are among those
being detained.
pleaded for anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue, said,
“Some wives, children and relatives of members of the sect are among those
being detained.
“The government may start with
the release of this category of people as a sign of its commitment to peace. I
believe members of this committee will be favourably disposed to making this
recommendation.”
the release of this category of people as a sign of its commitment to peace. I
believe members of this committee will be favourably disposed to making this
recommendation.”
As for the venue of talks
should members of the sect accept dialogue, the source said, “They may opt for
Saudi Arabia or any other country they consider a neutral ground, like they did
in the past. This is because they still cannot trust that government will not
use the venue of the talks to further hunt them down.
should members of the sect accept dialogue, the source said, “They may opt for
Saudi Arabia or any other country they consider a neutral ground, like they did
in the past. This is because they still cannot trust that government will not
use the venue of the talks to further hunt them down.
“Trust is still a big issue
here; the question remains whether the sect will trust that government will be
sincere this time around and not resort to behaviours that led to the breakdown
of similar attempts in the past.
here; the question remains whether the sect will trust that government will be
sincere this time around and not resort to behaviours that led to the breakdown
of similar attempts in the past.
“Just like those in government,
they also have hardliners. This group of members are likely to give near
impossible conditions such as the rebuilding of their homes and places of
worship destroyed by government forces and the like. ”
they also have hardliners. This group of members are likely to give near
impossible conditions such as the rebuilding of their homes and places of
worship destroyed by government forces and the like. ”
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad
Abubakar, had in Kaduna last month urged the Federal Government to give amnesty
to the sect members.
Abubakar, had in Kaduna last month urged the Federal Government to give amnesty
to the sect members.
The call was echoed by a number
of prominent Nigerians.
of prominent Nigerians.
It has, however, been strongly
opposed by the Christian Association of Nigeria.
opposed by the Christian Association of Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan had
few weeks ago said his administration would not hold talks with members of the
sect, whom he described as ‘ghosts’.
few weeks ago said his administration would not hold talks with members of the
sect, whom he described as ‘ghosts’.
But after some meetings with
northern elders and security chiefs, the President promised to set up an
amnesty committee for Boko Haram.
northern elders and security chiefs, the President promised to set up an
amnesty committee for Boko Haram.
The President made good his
promise on Wednesday by naming a 26-member amnesty committee headed by the
Minister of Special Duties, KabiruTuraki.
promise on Wednesday by naming a 26-member amnesty committee headed by the
Minister of Special Duties, KabiruTuraki.
Two members of the committee,
Shehu Sani and Dr, Datti Ahmed, rejected their nomination on Wednesday and
Thursday respectively.
Shehu Sani and Dr, Datti Ahmed, rejected their nomination on Wednesday and
Thursday respectively.
A leading member of the
Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, confirmed that 5,000 Boko Haram fighters
were likely to benefit from the amnesty.
Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, confirmed that 5,000 Boko Haram fighters
were likely to benefit from the amnesty.
He also debunked the notion
that Boko Haram members are faceless.
that Boko Haram members are faceless.
Abdullahi said, “We cannot say
these people are absent because about 5,000 of them are in detention. You
(journalists) are the ones reporting that (Boko Haram) commanders so, so, and
so have been arrested.
these people are absent because about 5,000 of them are in detention. You
(journalists) are the ones reporting that (Boko Haram) commanders so, so, and
so have been arrested.
“So we agree that there are
senior commanders in detention and I think there is this opportunity even for
physical contact between the group and some members of the group and
government.
senior commanders in detention and I think there is this opportunity even for
physical contact between the group and some members of the group and
government.
“Most reasonable opinions agree
that the use of force will not solve this problem. The way forward is to
encourage dialogue; it may be difficult at first, but we must try everything
possible to encourage interactions between members of the group and the committee.”
that the use of force will not solve this problem. The way forward is to
encourage dialogue; it may be difficult at first, but we must try everything
possible to encourage interactions between members of the group and the committee.”
Asked whether the Northern
Elders Forum would be involved in the talks, he said the committee wouldn’t
decide which role groups and individuals would play.
Elders Forum would be involved in the talks, he said the committee wouldn’t
decide which role groups and individuals would play.
He added that members of the
NEF were prepared to help restore peace to the North.
NEF were prepared to help restore peace to the North.
However, a civil rights
activist who declined to serve on the committee, Malam Shehu Sani expressed
doubts about the possibility of success for the committee.
activist who declined to serve on the committee, Malam Shehu Sani expressed
doubts about the possibility of success for the committee.
Sani said, “I have not seen
people in that committee whom members of the sect will trust enough to dialogue
with.
people in that committee whom members of the sect will trust enough to dialogue
with.
“A committee headed by a
serving minister does not look to me as serious. For this committee to make
progress, these three people must be part of it: Ahmed Shilkida (a freelance
journalist), Hamza Idris and Mustapha Zanna. If these people are not part of
the committee, it is difficult for it to succeed.”
serving minister does not look to me as serious. For this committee to make
progress, these three people must be part of it: Ahmed Shilkida (a freelance
journalist), Hamza Idris and Mustapha Zanna. If these people are not part of
the committee, it is difficult for it to succeed.”
Source: Punch
