FG sets up ‘amnesty’ panel for Boko Haram


President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday convened an emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting where the possibility of granting amnesty to Boko Haram insurgents was discussed.

The NSC meeting followed an earlier parley on Wednesday between the President and leadership of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) at the State House, Abuja.

Daily Independent gathered that an in-house committee with a two-week deadline to analyse issues associated with the clamour for amnesty for Boko Haram members was set up by the President at Thursday’s NSC meeting.

The meeting, according to sources, focused on suggestions on whether to grant amnesty to the faceless group based on recent clamour by political leaders, mostly Muslims, from the North.

A chieftain of NEF, Ango Abdullahi, disclosed after Wednesday’s meeting with the President that government was contemplating options open to it on the issue.

“I’m sure something substantial will come out of this meeting,” Abdullahi told newsmen.

Sources said Wednesday’s meeting between the President and the NEF was a follow-up to a similar one in May 2012 during which the Northern group submitted a memorandum which the President promised to study and invite them back for further discussion on the issues raised.

Thursday’s NSC meeting had in attendance Inspector General (IG) of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, and the Service Chiefs, among others.

The meeting, however, ended without any formal statement.

When approached by reporters for comments, Chief of Defence Staff, Ibrahim Ola Sa’ad, simply put a finger across his lips, indicating that he was not going to comment on issues discussed.

When asked by a reporter whether Nigerians can go to sleep with their two eyes closed, Sa’ad replied: “completely closed.”

The IG, who left shortly after the Service Chiefs and the NSA, equally refused to talk.

As he walked to his car, he was seen signalling his security guards to block reporters from getting close while at the same time pointing in the direction of the NSA.

Minister of State for Defence, Olusola Obada, simply remarked that “the meeting is on the spate of insecurity, I mean what we can do to ensure that it is brought to absolute minimum.”

When pressed to disclose if the issue of amnesty for Boko Haram members was discussed, she replied: “Some issues to ameliorate…some issues were discussed.”

A top security source close to the meeting said, however, that Jonathan had set up an in-house committee on the clamour for amnesty for Boko Haram members.

The committee, possibly headed by the NSA, will decide on the possibility of  amnesty for the insurgents.

Though other members of the committee are not yet confirmed, Daily Independet reliably gathered that the terms of reference for the committee include:

(A) To consider the feasibility or otherwise of granting pardon to the Boko Haram adherents.

(B) Collate clamours arising from different interest groups who want the apex government to administer clemency on members of the religious sect; and

(C) Recommend modalities for the granting of pardon, should such step become the logical one to take.

While stating that Jonathan never shut the door against amnesty, the source said: “It is a complex situation, but government has obligation to respect public opinion, especially with increasing clamour for the amnesty call from various quarters.”

Abdullahi had mentioned after Wednesday’s meeting that NEF, led by former diplomat, Yusuf Maitama Sule, had deliberated on the issue of pardon to the Boko Haram members.

He said they had impressed it on Jonathan to review the issue of amnesty to the sect members, while also considering “what the government is trying to do to overcome this violence that is taking place all over the country or most parts of the North.”

Also briefing reporters at the end of Wednesday’s meeting, Information Minister, Labaran Maku, confirmed that “the issue of security also came up, and the Northern Elders Forum brought the position that they believe government should consider amnesty for the insurgents in the Northern part of the country.

“They believe that it is the position that most Northern elders presently hold to enable them to exercise some influence in the process of achieving peace in the Northern part of the country,” Maku explained.

Among the Northern elders at Wednesday’s meeting were Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Pauline Tallen, Kali Gazali, Safiya Mohammed, Solomon Dalong, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, Shehu Malami, John Wash Pam, Bello Kirfi, Paul Tarfa, Lawal Kaita, Paul Unongo and Allamin Daggash.

Others were Sanni Daura, Yahaya Kwande, Sale Hassan, Bashir Yusuf, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, Idris Mohammed, Paul Tahal and Bashir Sodangi.

In a related development,  Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, on Thursday disagreed with the Federal Government’s position that members of Boko Haram are faceless, arguing that those who have either been killed or arrested are human beings.

“How come that when the Joint Task Force raid and kill Boko Haram members, they come out to tell Nigerians that they have killed top commanders of the sect.

“How did they know that those killed were commanders of the sect if they are faceless?”

He spoke in Benin at a ceremony marking the 60th birthday of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

Also speaking at the occasion, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, called on the President not to foreclose dialogue with Boko Haram because “Jesus did not close door against the prodigal son.”

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