DESPITE
extending an olive branch of amnesty deal to the Boko Haram, the sect has
rejected the idea of any potential soft landing.
extending an olive branch of amnesty deal to the Boko Haram, the sect has
rejected the idea of any potential soft landing.
The leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, in
an audio recording released to the media on Thursday, said the group had not
done anything wrong that required amnesty, saying it was the sect that should
have granted the Nigerian government a pardon.
an audio recording released to the media on Thursday, said the group had not
done anything wrong that required amnesty, saying it was the sect that should
have granted the Nigerian government a pardon.
Shekau maintained that the sect’s aim is to
avenge the killings of Musilms and the “destruction of their religion.”
avenge the killings of Musilms and the “destruction of their religion.”
But the Northern Traditional Rulers Council
is insisting that the federal government should still offer amnesty to members
of the sect, who are willing to embrace peace and reintegration into the larger
society.
is insisting that the federal government should still offer amnesty to members
of the sect, who are willing to embrace peace and reintegration into the larger
society.
The council made the call in a resolution
after it’s meeting held at the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence,
Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III.
after it’s meeting held at the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence,
Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III.
In the statement issued by the coordinating
secretary of the council and Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu, the
group of traditional rulers from the North called for decisive action from the
federal government to curb the “unfortunate escalation of insecurity in the
country.”
secretary of the council and Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu, the
group of traditional rulers from the North called for decisive action from the
federal government to curb the “unfortunate escalation of insecurity in the
country.”
The statement stated that: “The meeting
calls on the Federal Government to consider dialogue as the better option in
resolving the crises. To this end, the federal government is called upon to
reconsider its stand and offer amnesty to the insurgents who embrace the path
of peace, reformation and reintegration with the larger society. This is the
norm the world over and there exists a precedent in Nigeria.”
It further noted that the violence was not targeted at non-Muslims as the
majority of the victims were Muslims, saying attempts on the lives of Emir of
Kano, Shehu of Borno and Emir of Fika were testimonies to this fact.
calls on the Federal Government to consider dialogue as the better option in
resolving the crises. To this end, the federal government is called upon to
reconsider its stand and offer amnesty to the insurgents who embrace the path
of peace, reformation and reintegration with the larger society. This is the
norm the world over and there exists a precedent in Nigeria.”
It further noted that the violence was not targeted at non-Muslims as the
majority of the victims were Muslims, saying attempts on the lives of Emir of
Kano, Shehu of Borno and Emir of Fika were testimonies to this fact.
The Northern Traditional Rulers Council
expressed their condolences with families who have lost their relatives in the
campaign of violence launched by Boko Haram.
expressed their condolences with families who have lost their relatives in the
campaign of violence launched by Boko Haram.
In Kano, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso while
receiving members of the Arewa Consultative Forum’s executive council at the
government house, during the group’s visit to commiserate with the state
government over the recent suicide bomb attack that claimed several lives in
the state capital argued that a lot of the challenges currently facing the
country today are caused by the uneven distribution of resources among all
sections of the country by the government, lamenting that even appointments and
political patronage are not as balanced as they should be.
receiving members of the Arewa Consultative Forum’s executive council at the
government house, during the group’s visit to commiserate with the state
government over the recent suicide bomb attack that claimed several lives in
the state capital argued that a lot of the challenges currently facing the
country today are caused by the uneven distribution of resources among all
sections of the country by the government, lamenting that even appointments and
political patronage are not as balanced as they should be.
Kwankwaso said he has spoken consistently
on the onshore/offshore dichotomy debate and, lately, the Petroleum Industry
Bill (PIB), adding that his aim had always been to secure justice and to ensure
that parts of the country that already have enough are not given priority over
the deprived ones.
on the onshore/offshore dichotomy debate and, lately, the Petroleum Industry
Bill (PIB), adding that his aim had always been to secure justice and to ensure
that parts of the country that already have enough are not given priority over
the deprived ones.
He called on federal legislators from the
North to strive to ensure that justice and fairness prevail with regard to the
PIB currently before the National Assembly, as well as other issues, in order
to overcome the challenges facing the country. The federal government, he
added, must also work towards ensuring impartiality among all sections of the
country.
North to strive to ensure that justice and fairness prevail with regard to the
PIB currently before the National Assembly, as well as other issues, in order
to overcome the challenges facing the country. The federal government, he
added, must also work towards ensuring impartiality among all sections of the
country.
On the security problem in some Northern
states, Governor Kwankwaso attributed this to poverty and collapse of family
and societal values among others, pointing out that governments and other
stakeholders in the region have to do more collectively to address the crisis,
so that peace and progress do not continue to elude the region.
states, Governor Kwankwaso attributed this to poverty and collapse of family
and societal values among others, pointing out that governments and other
stakeholders in the region have to do more collectively to address the crisis,
so that peace and progress do not continue to elude the region.
The governor, therefore, urged the ACF to
pay more attention to the dire situation prevalent in Northern states
like begging and drug abuse, mainly among the youth, pointing out that the
organization has a vital role to play in mobilizing the people and governments
in the region to do what is right.
pay more attention to the dire situation prevalent in Northern states
like begging and drug abuse, mainly among the youth, pointing out that the
organization has a vital role to play in mobilizing the people and governments
in the region to do what is right.
He promised that his administration will
continue to do its best in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the
citizenry, adding that it will also continue to collaborate with ACF to achieve
its goals.
continue to do its best in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the
citizenry, adding that it will also continue to collaborate with ACF to achieve
its goals.
ACF chairman, Alhaji Aliko Muhammad,
lamented the current security situation in the country, arguing that Boko Haram
and Ansaru have remained faceless largely because “governments have not put any
mechanism on ground to assure the sects that they would not be arrested and
dealt with by security agencies”.
lamented the current security situation in the country, arguing that Boko Haram
and Ansaru have remained faceless largely because “governments have not put any
mechanism on ground to assure the sects that they would not be arrested and
dealt with by security agencies”.
According to Muhammad who holds the
traditional title, Dan Iyan Misau, the clamour for amnesty is premised on the
realisation that the region would thrive only in an atmosphere of peace. He
noted, however, that the position of the ACF and many other Nigerians in favour
of dialogue with the sects is informed by the “fact of history” that force
alone has never succeeded in bringing terrorism under control anywhere on
earth.
traditional title, Dan Iyan Misau, the clamour for amnesty is premised on the
realisation that the region would thrive only in an atmosphere of peace. He
noted, however, that the position of the ACF and many other Nigerians in favour
of dialogue with the sects is informed by the “fact of history” that force
alone has never succeeded in bringing terrorism under control anywhere on
earth.
In recent weeks, religious, political and
traditional leaders in Northern Nigeria have called for amnesty for the sect,
while President Goodluck Jonathan has formed a committee to discuss a possible
deal.
traditional leaders in Northern Nigeria have called for amnesty for the sect,
while President Goodluck Jonathan has formed a committee to discuss a possible
deal.
Nigeria began to witness the terror reign
of Boko Haram sect since 2009, with the government blaming the sect for dozens
of deadly bombings and shootings in Northern Nigeria. Human Rights Watch says
the Boko Haram-related violence has killed over 3,000 people, a toll that
inlcudes killings by security forces.
of Boko Haram sect since 2009, with the government blaming the sect for dozens
of deadly bombings and shootings in Northern Nigeria. Human Rights Watch says
the Boko Haram-related violence has killed over 3,000 people, a toll that
inlcudes killings by security forces.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the police said
suspected Islamic extremists attacked a police station in the North Eastern
part of the country, killing four officers.
suspected Islamic extremists attacked a police station in the North Eastern
part of the country, killing four officers.
The overnight attack occurred in the
village of Babban Gida in Yobe State, while police officials said five of the
gunmen were also shot dead.
village of Babban Gida in Yobe State, while police officials said five of the
gunmen were also shot dead.
Source: Tribune
