The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar in Kaduna
on Tuesday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to grant amnesty to members of
Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, as a way of ending the insurgency of
the group which has resulted into the death of thousands of Nigerians.
on Tuesday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to grant amnesty to members of
Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, as a way of ending the insurgency of
the group which has resulted into the death of thousands of Nigerians.
The Sultan, who is widely regarded as the leader of Nigerian
Muslims as the President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
said this at the central council meeting of Jamatrul Nasril Islam (JNI) in
Kaduna on Tuesday.
Muslims as the President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
said this at the central council meeting of Jamatrul Nasril Islam (JNI) in
Kaduna on Tuesday.
Speaking to prominent Islamic scholars and Northern leaders who
filled the conference hall of the JNI headquarters in Kaduna, the Sultan added
that such amnesty will stop the activities of the deadly sect, just as it did
with the militancy in the Niger Delta.
filled the conference hall of the JNI headquarters in Kaduna, the Sultan added
that such amnesty will stop the activities of the deadly sect, just as it did
with the militancy in the Niger Delta.
“The type of amnesty that ended militants’ unrest in the Niger
Delta will be suitable for the North. Initiating a restoration and
rehabilitation programme that would integrate the terrorists into the larger
society will pave way for dialogue rather than engaging them in an endless
war,” the Sultan who decried increasing bomb attacks and kidnappings by
terrorists in parts of the country said.
Delta will be suitable for the North. Initiating a restoration and
rehabilitation programme that would integrate the terrorists into the larger
society will pave way for dialogue rather than engaging them in an endless
war,” the Sultan who decried increasing bomb attacks and kidnappings by
terrorists in parts of the country said.
He added that such amnesty will enable the sect members lay down
their arms rather than the on-going military tactics by the massive deployment
of the Joint Task Force (JTF) to the northern part of the country.
their arms rather than the on-going military tactics by the massive deployment
of the Joint Task Force (JTF) to the northern part of the country.
The Islamic leader attributed the security challenges being
faced in the country to injustice against the masses by political leaders.
faced in the country to injustice against the masses by political leaders.
This, he said, has now resulted in some sections of the society
taking up of arms out of frustration.
taking up of arms out of frustration.
The Federal Government has been ambivalent on suggestions that
it should dialogue with the insurgent group with claims that no credible
representative of the group has come forward for negotiations.
it should dialogue with the insurgent group with claims that no credible
representative of the group has come forward for negotiations.
In a video released some days ago, Mallam Abubakar Shekau,
regarded as the leader of Boko Haram also denied that his group is engaged in
any form of discussion with the Nigeria government.
regarded as the leader of Boko Haram also denied that his group is engaged in
any form of discussion with the Nigeria government.
International human rights bodies estimated that about 3000
lives have been lost to activities of Boko Haram since 2009.
lives have been lost to activities of Boko Haram since 2009.
Last week, the group claim that it was behind the kidnapping of
seven members of a French family at the border with Cameroun.
seven members of a French family at the border with Cameroun.
It was the first time the group will claim that it engaged in
kidnapping.
kidnapping.
Also speaking against the background of assassination of some
polio workers recently in Kano State, the Sultan also re-affirmed the
commitment of to continue to work with the Ministry of Health and other
government agencies to ensure that children in the region are immunised against
deadly diseases.
polio workers recently in Kano State, the Sultan also re-affirmed the
commitment of to continue to work with the Ministry of Health and other
government agencies to ensure that children in the region are immunised against
deadly diseases.
While condemning recent killings of polio vaccinators in Kano,
Mohammed Pate, Minister of State for Health, said most parents in the North are
still not bringing their children forward for polio immunization.
Mohammed Pate, Minister of State for Health, said most parents in the North are
still not bringing their children forward for polio immunization.
He said this has hindered efforts to eradicate polio in the
country making Nigeria one of the three countries where polio still exists in
the world.
country making Nigeria one of the three countries where polio still exists in
the world.
Source:
PMNews
PMNews
