Federal Government Grants Amnesty To 800 Boko Haram Insurgents

The Federal Government has granted amnesty to not less than 800 members of the Boko Haram group. These members are currently undergoing vocational skills training under the supervision of the office of the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS.

Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Alhaji Sani Sidi who dropped the hint yesterday at Abuja, explained that the programme under which repentant Boko Haram insurgents are being rehabilitated tagged: “Safe Corridor Initiative”, was conceived purposely to provide a leeway for them to turn a new leaf.


Sidi spoke at the joint public hearing on the North East Development Commission, NEDC Bill by the Senate Committees on Special Duties, and Establishment and Public Services

He said: "It is not correct that the Federal government does not have a plan for repentant sect members. The federal government has set up the safe corridor programme. I do know that over 800 sect members have been registered in it."

“They have exited the Boko Haram militants through the programme in line with the International best practice. They are currently receiving various skills acquisitions programme, which is being handled by the military. It’s being by the Chief of Defence Staff”.

The NEMA boss posted that restoration of formal education, sustainable agriculture, paternalism, infrastructural reconstruction, environmental protection and remediation for people of the North East should constitute the key focal areas of the North East Development Commission.

Several Nigerian have expressed their displeasure with this decision made by the FG while others are waiting to see where the FG would go with this plan. According to most, the insurgents do not deserve the amnesty granted to them, unlike the Niger Delta amnesty program, where people feel they were fighting for a due cause.

Source: www.nigerianpilot.com