Presidential panel calls for amnesty on Boko Haram issue

The Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North-East Zone of Nigeria, which was set up following the bomb attacks by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has submitted its final report, asking the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to consider the grant of amnesty to members of the sect wishing to surrender their arms to the Nigerian government.

The committee submitted its report on a day the security agencies commenced a manhunt for suspected Boko Haram members who may have sneaked into Abuja, the nation’s capital to carry out a suicide bomb attack on a national asset to dent the nation’s 51st Independence anniversary celebrations.

The Nigerian Government panel headed by Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari, recommended that: “the Nigerian Government should fundamentally, consider the option of dialogue and negotiation which should be contingent upon the renunciation of all forms of violence and surrender of arms to be followed by rehabilitation.”

The committee also told Vice President Namadi Sambo, who received the final report on behalf of President Jonathan that the Jaamatus Ahlus Sunnah Lid Daawatis Wal Jihad, aka Boko Haram, had nominated the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III or his representative; the Emir of Bauchi and Sheik Abubakar Gero Argungu, as its representatives in any Nigerian government team that will negotiate with its members.

Why amnesty?

Following the attack on UN House in Abuja by Boko Haram on August 28 this year which claimed 23 lives, spokesman of the group, Abu Kakah accused the Nigerian Government of insincerity in dialoguing with the group, saying the only condition they would accept to talk with government was unconditional release of all their members whom, he said, are in prisons all over the country.

Claiming responsibility for the UN House attack as well as the failed suicide attack on Borno police command headquarters and the attack on banks in Gombi, Adamawa State which left more than 16 people dead, the spokesman of the group said they had not been contacted by Borno State Government and the Nigerian Government or their representatives for dialogue.

The spokesman had also described the Sultan as the ‘Seriki’ of Sokoto and not the leader of the Muslims in the country, accusing him of supporting the Nigerian Government policies against Islam.

Preliminary report

The panel which had earlier submitted its preliminary report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim Pius, said: “Government may consider constituting another committee with wider powers and with increased membership to handle the assignment within a reasonable timeframe but not weeks as was given to this committee”.

Recommendations

The committee made the following recommendations:

• The Nigerian Government should diversify and strengthen its means of creating avenues for international intelligence sharing and inter-agency cooperation through diplomatic channels/pacts.
• The Nigerian Government should create an informal forum at the highest level, where the President will discuss national security issues with governors and other major stakeholders from time to time.
• The Nigerian Government and Borno State Government should ensure that human and organizational victims most especially, churches and mosques including schools, which were destroyed during religious crises in the past and even in the recent past, should be compensated monetarily and by way of resuscitating and reconstructing their properties. Survivors of the deceased victims should be compensated appropriately.

Government reaction

Responding the report from the committee members, Vice President Sambo who was accompanied by the National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi, the SGF, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, promised to implement the recommendations as contained in the report.

The Vice President, while commending the committee for a job well done, said that “some of the major issues you have stated regarding the issues of poverty, unemployment, breach of the peace and the existence of private militia are issues that this administration is looking at seriously.”

Security measures

The operation to round up suspects of the Boko Haram group which is termed ‘top priority’ by the security agencies, is said to be spearheaded by the Army Headquarters Garrison, the Military Intelligence, while all the battalions under the Guards Brigade have been put on a 24-hour alert at all the entry points into the FCT to ensure the sect members do not find their way into the FCT.

A Major General is reported to be coordinating the security network in the FCT, in the wake of the threats and the past experiences whereby the group beat all security cordons and successfully carried out the bombing of the UN House in Abuja.

NP/ Adekusibe/Ekata