Offer amnesty to insurgents, Jonathan urged
2013-03-06 14:47
-
Boko Haram
A book of articles about the violent jihadist terrorist organization based in the northeast of...
Now R810.00
buy now
Kano - Nigeria's top Islamic leader has called on President
Goodluck Jonathan to offer amnesty to all combatants linked to an extremist
group that has killed hundreds, in comments obtained on Wednesday.
Addressing a key religious body in the northern city of
Kaduna, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, said Muslim leaders were
"very, very concerned" about unrest in the country where Boko Haram
Islamists have carried out scores of attacks in the mainly Muslim north.
"We want to use this opportunity to call on the
government, especially Mr President, to see how he can declare total amnesty to
all combatants without thinking twice," Abubakar said.
"Even if it is one person who is a terrorist and he
denounces terrorism it is the duty of the government to accept that one person
and see how he can be used to reach others."
Boko Haram has said it is fighting to create an Islamic
state in northern Nigeria, but the group is thought to have many different
factions, including a hardcore leadership cell.
Experts say that many of its young combatants have turned to
violence because of government corruption and crippling poverty in the north,
which is poorer than the mostly Christian south.
"If there is amnesty declared we believe so many of
those young men who have been tired of running and hiding will come out and
embrace that amnesty," said Abubakar.
Dialogue
The sultan served in Nigeria's military for three decades
before assuming the revered religious post in 2006.
Boko Haram has carried out attacks on three senior Nigerian
Muslim leaders, who they accuse of betraying Islam by working with the
government.
Abubakar referred to unconfirmed reports that Jonathan plans
to make his first visit as president to the embattled north-eastern city of
Maiduguri, considered Boko Haram's home base.
The sultan indicated Jonathan's trip could provide an
opportunity to launch a peace drive.
Several past attempts to negotiate with Boko Haram have led
nowhere.
In a video obtained on Tuesday, the group's suspected leader
Abubakar Shekau said Boko Haram would not enter dialogue with the government so
long as its members were being arrested and detained, a condition cited in
previous statements.
Violence linked to Boko Haram's insurgency in northern and
central Nigeria has led to the deaths of at least 3 000 people since 2009,
including killings by the security forces.
