FG Sets Up Amnesty Committee for Boko Haram

Federal government has named a 26 member panel headed by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, minister of Special Duties, to engage key members of Boko Haram to fashion out the best way to tackle the Islamic insurgency in the north and possibly grant the group amnesty.

The committee is “expected to “constructively engage key members of Boko Haram and define a comprehensive and workable framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the country,” according to a signed statement by Reuben Abati, presidential spokesman.

The decision to set up the panel according to Abati followed the Tuesday National Security Council review of the report of the technical committee set up two weeks ago by the president to  review fresh modalities for addressing security challenges in the North.

Members of the committee include: Sheik Ahmed Lemu, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Col. Musa Shehu (rtd.), Sheik Abubakar Tureta, and Dr.Datti Ahmed.

Senator Sodangi Abubakar, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, Amb. Zakari Ibrahim, Comrade Shehu Sani, Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, Malam Adamu S. Ladan, Dr. Joseph Golwa, Air Vice Marshall A. I. Shehu, Mr. R. I. Nkemdirim, DIG P. I. Leha, Prof. Nur Alkali,  Malam Salihu Abubakar, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Lugga.

Other members also include: Barrister Ibrahim Tahir, Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo, Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda, Group Capt. Bilal Bulama (rtd), Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and a representative of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Secretary.

Abati said the committee would be formally inaugurated by President Jonathan at 10 am on Wednesday, 24 April at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The statement said the committee’s terms of reference will include developing a framework for the granting of amnesty; setting up of a framework through which disarmament could take place within a 60-day time frame; the development of a comprehensive victims’ support programme, and the development of mechanisms to address the underlying causes of insurgencies that will help to prevent future occurrences.