Northern Govs Beg Boko Haram To Accept Amnesty

The Northern Governors’ Forum on Thursday lamented the effect of the   Boko Haram insurgency on the North and pleaded with members of the violent Islamic sect to accept the planned amnesty for them by the Federal Government.

The Chairman of the forum and Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, stated this while receiving the report of the forum’s Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and Security, in Abuja  on Thursday.

Aliyu, who  said the activities of the insurgents had led to destruction of many lives and property, also advised the Federal Government to  complement the resolve of  the forum  by taking into account, the findings and recommendations of its committee.

 “Members of the insurgent group are called upon for immediate ceasefire; accept the offer made by the Federal Government and come forward for dialogue and eventual submission of arms,” the governor said.

Boko Haram Leader,  Abubakar Shekau had 0n April 10, said the sect members did not need anmesty because they believed they had done nothing wrong. He stated that it was the Federal Government that needed pardon by the group whose activities in the past few years had led to the loss of at least 3,000 lives and property worth millions of naira in parts of the North.

“Surprisingly, the Nigerian government is talking about granting us amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant you (a) pardon,” Agence France Presse had  quoted him as saying in   Hausa language.

....Punch