Saturday 9 March 2013


Reps member faults amnesty call for Boko Haram

on MARCH 9, 2013 · 
Member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Bitrus Kaze has joined in condemnation of calls for the granting of amnesty to members of the Boko Haram Sect describing it an a confirmation of beliefs that they have backers in high places.
He said in a statement made available to journalists in Jos yesterday that the call by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and Northern Governors Forum for members of the sect to be granted amnesty was contrary to the country’s constitution and other laws of the land.
“Coming at a time when security reports from terrorists’ training camps in Mali have established links between Boko Haram and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the advocacy for amnesty in favour of Boko Haram offends the Nigerian Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 which provides for effective implementation of the several international Conventions on the Prevention, Financing and Combating of Terrorism to which Nigeria is a signatory.
“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. President Goodluck Jonathan has an obligation to enforce all international conventions on terrorism none of which provides for amnesty to terrorists.
“The Boko Haram Islamic fundamentalists themselves have never sought for amnesty; why should the Sultan and the Northern Governors Forum cry more than the bereaved? Just last week, the Boko Haram leader Shiek Shekau himself claimed responsibility for perpetrating terrorism and staunchly denied any relationship with Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdulazeez who while claiming to be his second in command, pronounced a ceasefire.
“All this while, both the Sultan and the Northern Governors Forum have consistently maintained that Boko Haram and their sponsors are faceless; how come they are now advocating for amnesty for people they do not know?”, the statement said.

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