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.