Northern leaders to meet Boko Haram leader
2013-04-12 23:00:45

The Federal Government's committee on amnesty for the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, plans to reach out to the leader of the group, Sheik Ibrahim Shekau.

Saturday PUNCH's investigation showed that in spite of the sect's rejection of the amnesty offer by the Federal Government, the government is still leaving the option open.

It was gathered that as part of the moves to pursue the dialogue option, the committee, which would soon be constituted, would consist of respected Islamic leaders.

It was also learnt that its membership would include some indigenes of Yobe and Borno states, which are the operating bases of the sect.

Investigations showed that Islamic scholars and other prominent indigenes of the two states would assist in reaching out to Shekau.

A top government source, who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said, "The Federal Government is not discouraged by the sect's rejection of amnesty.

"We are going to use the stick and carrot approach. While the Joint Task Force will continue its operations, the committee will reach out to the sect for dialogue.

"We have started a process and we will not abandon it. We will, however, need the cooperation of northern leaders to appeal to those people."

The Northern Elders' Forum had a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan last week and advised the President to offer amnesty to the sect members.

Jonathan was reported to have agreed to set up a committee that would work out the amnesty terms for the sect after a meeting with security chiefs.

But the leader of the sect was quoted on Thursday by the AFP news agency as rejecting the offer on behalf of the group.

He was quoted as saying in a recorded audio message in Hausa, "Surprisingly, the Nigerian government is talking about granting amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant you (a) pardon."

But it was gathered that in spite of the sect's rejection of the amnesty, the government would go ahead with its decision to set up the committee.

It was also gathered that apart from the Northern Elders' Forum, other northern groups such as the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Northern Governors' Forum are expected to join in the peace moves.

Confirming this, a member of the NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, told one of our correspondents that the forum was prepared to play any role given to it in order to ensure peace.

Asked if the NEF would take up the challenge of reaching out to Shekau, he said, "It depends on how the committee is formulated. I think the government is working very hard to set up this committee, they have not finished.

"I know members of the committee will do this. The northern elders and other groups will join the main committee; there may be sub-committees which will be given various roles with the sole objective of ending the crisis.

"I don't see our group being singled out; we will be called to make our contributions like every other group."

Meanwhile, the Jamaatu Nasril Islam on Friday appealed to the Federal Government not to be distracted from its amnesty plan for the insurgent group, Boko Haram.

Its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, said in Kaduna at a news briefing that the government should ignore those bent on distracting it from pursuing the path of peace and reconciliation.

He condemned the negative campaign launched by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, against the amnesty plan, saying it was divisive and selfish.

"We appeal to the Federal Government to proceed with its plans for amnesty as a potent way of restoring peace to Nigeria without minding any distractive tendencies," he said.

The JNI secretary general described the Boko Haram insurgency as "an accident beyond religion, which affects every Nigerian directly or indirectly and upon which no passing of buck can be logical."

He said the attack by the insurgents had killed more Muslims than Christians and had disrupted the livelihood of millions of others.

Aliyu listed some high profile casualties of the insurgents as the Shehu of Borno, the Emir of Fika, the Emir of Kano and hundreds of Muslim clerics, adding that the CAN president's comments were misplaced.

He appealed to well meaning Nigerians to support the government to restore peace and normalcy to areas affected by the insurgency.

He called on Muslims not to be provoked by the smear campaign and to pray continuously for peace and tranquillity in the country.

http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/northern-leaders-to-meet-boko-haram-leader/

Its their baby, we don't expect anything less

Ok oo,my president is stl opening the door for dem to cme in,can smebdy pls gve dat man a slap dats sayn boko has killd mre xtians dan muslims.

Amnesty will not work with Boko Haram. Their struggle is ideological in nature. Accepting the amnesty is abandoning the tenets of their faith or religious conviction.

u can imagine, u want to use a
stick and carrot approach nd u
re already telling boko haram
in their face. Naija eeeeehhh, u
re giving ur plans to boko
haram,thought dis stuff
suppose to be secret?.
Anyway u re sending Boko
haram members to go nd talk
to Boko haram again
mtcheeewwwww
Jonathan wen will u tink wit ur
head? re U forcing boko
haram to accept amnesty?. The
last time i heard amnesty is for
lazy ppl nd rogues nd nt for
terrorist

What a kind hearted president. Just hope they cash in on this gentleman's humane character and have some sense. No aboki should blame us for what will befall them afterward.
For the northern elders, this is what they've always wanted, let's see how far they can go. The sultan, buhari, elrufai, NGF, ACF etc we are waiting, the ball is in ur court

Wait,I thought they are faceless and ghosts.

nairawall: Amnesty will not work with Boko Haram. Their struggle is ideological in nature. Accepting the amnesty is abandoning the tenets of their faith or religious conviction.

I agree with U on the ideological issue, but too say that accepting it means abandoning the tenets of their religion is where I find it difficult to swallow. Islam didn't say islamize other religion neither did it say bomb and kill defenseless people for no just cause.
Let's hope the northern leaders that clamoured for it will make it work, else Gej should use ultimate force

I just hope a US drone will follow them to where the Devil is.....

He is a terrorist and amnesty or no amnesty, he is going down!

"He said the attack by the
insurgents had killed more
Muslims than Christians and
had disrupted the livelihood of
millions of others.
Aliyu listed some high profile
casualties of the insurgents as
the Shehu of Borno, the Emir of
Fika, the Emir of Kano and
hundreds of Muslim clerics,
adding that the CAN president's
comments were misplaced."
Hypocrisy of Northern Elders
Dr. Khalid Aliyu you are very insensitive and stupid

gratiaeo: "He said the attack by the
insurgents had killed more
Muslims than Christians and
had disrupted the livelihood of
millions of others.
Aliyu listed some high profile
casualties of the insurgents as
the Shehu of Borno, the Emir of
Fika, the Emir of Kano and
hundreds of Muslim clerics,
adding that the CAN president's
comments were misplaced."
Hypocrisy of Northern Elders
Dr. Khalid Aliyu you are very insensitive and stupid

Aliyu is a known slowpoke

gratiaeo: "He said the attack by the
insurgents had killed more
Muslims than Christians and
had disrupted the livelihood of
millions of others.
Aliyu listed some high profile
casualties of the insurgents as
the Shehu of Borno, the Emir of
Fika, the Emir of Kano and
hundreds of Muslim clerics,
adding that the CAN president's
comments were misplaced."
Hypocrisy of Northern Elders
Dr. Khalid Aliyu you are very insensitive and stupid

Igbos and xtians have taken a lot of this nonsense..so all the burnt churches islam men. Can u imagine broad day lie

I need the rejected amnesty

Boko Arams meeting Boko Harams.. Thunder fire all of you enemies of peace....

Latent terrorists going to negotiate with their overt terrorist brothers. Pray u all get blown to pieces.

And as for u Dr Aliyu, u are nothing but an accursed Islamic retar..d.

hehe Nigeria is a failed state. Hate it or leave it. How cn a President beg some criminals that have killed more than 3k people? Your the Commander in Chief of the Armed forces for crying out loud! With all the current developments, i now believe that even the Nigerian Army are incapable and very much crippled to handle an Internal crisis. Dumpster country Nigeria ruled by sick old tyrants.

Eleven days after Nigeria
got her political
independence on October 1,
1960, the Sardauna of
Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello
said, as was carried by the
Parrot newspaper on
October 12, 1960:
"The new nation called
Nigeria should be an estate
of our great grandfather
Othman Dan Fodio. We
must ruthlessly prevent a
change of power. We use the
minorities in the north as
willing tools and the south
as a conquered territory and
never allow them to rule
over us and never allow
them to have control over
their future."

Good start

MEILYN: u can imagine, u want to use a
stick and carrot approach nd u
re already telling boko haram
in their face. Naija eeeeehhh, u
re giving ur plans to boko
haram,thought dis stuff
suppose to be secret?.
Anyway u re sending Boko
haram members to go nd talk
to Boko haram again
mtcheeewwwww
Jonathan wen will u tink wit ur
head? re U forcing boko
haram to accept amnesty?. The
last time i heard amnesty is for
lazy ppl nd rogues nd nt for
terrorist

I wonder º°˚˚°ºoo.