Jonathan Offers Conditional Amnesty to Boko Haram

Determined to explore various options that can rein in the increasingly destructive attacks on Nigerians by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, President Goodluck Jonathan has announced the offer of amnesty to members of the outlawed Islamic sect. The offer may be patterned after the type offered the Niger Delta Militants who renounced violence, surrendered their arms and embraced dialogue; after which they were put through a de-militarisation process and non-violence training.
The scheme is presently running in batches supervised by the amnesty office Abuja.
But the Bauchi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the president to rescind the decision, arguing that not only has the terrorists rejected all past entreaties for dialogue and reconciliation, the real reason why they are striking is because a southerner is in power.
President Jonathan, in his Democracy Day broadcast yesterday promised to “pursue all options” that could lead to the containment of the insurgency attacks on Nigeria, adding that his government is maintaining an open door policy on the matter.
The amnesty programme, which was announced by the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna, in furtherance of the president’s speech yesterday, is said to have been one of the “reserved options” the federal government has considered in the various efforts to tackle the menace of the terror gang.
Haruna, a former governor of Adamawa State, one of the states affected by the reign of terror from the Boko Haram group, gave an overview of the youth’s position in the Jonathan administration’s transformation agenda at a special event titled “A day with young leaders of Nigeria.”
The event, which held at the International Conference Centre, in Abuja, was in commemoration of Democracy Day.
According to the minister, various integration programmes had been mapped out for the dreaded sect members who surrender their arms and embrace peace.
Although the Youth Development Minister did not discuss the modalities of the amnesty programme,
THISDAY gathered that it may be fashioned after the scheme offered to the Niger Delta militants.
In this wise, Haruna urged Boko Haram members to embrace government’s gesture.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has also declared amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect.
“Series of integration programmes have been lined up for the members of the sect who would surrender their arms and embrace peace.
“Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the federal government, to call on the members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace the government’s gesture and key in to the amnesty programme,” the minister said.
Going down memory lane, the minister said a few years ago, a similar amnesty was granted Niger Delta militants to curb youth restiveness in the area.
According to him, 30,000 youths benefited from the programme, and the aftermath effect was the transforming of militants to wealth creators, employers of labour and skilled citizens.
Jonathan, who fielded questions from youths, noted that force alone could not solve the problem of insurgency.
The offer of amnesty by the president seems to suggest the resort to the carrot-and-stick approach, as earlier in the day, the president had announced that he had ordered the Nigerian military for a full-scale attack on the insurgents in order to end their reign in the country.
According to the president, “The unity and stability of our country, and the protection of lives and property are non-negotiable. I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil.
“I have also authorised the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done. I assure you that Nigeria will be safe again, and that these thugs will be driven away – it will not happen overnight – but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal.”