Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima explained that his call for amnesty for Boko Haram insurgents in his inaugural speech on May 29 which was misunderstood by many Nigerians, has been justified with the recent attempt by 16 members of the sect to renounce the murderous ideology.
Shettima stated this through his special adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau.
According to him, the action of the 16 insurgents is one key proof that an amnesty programme targeted at creating exit window for forcefully conscripted members is very capable of reducing the number of Boko Haram fighters.
Gusau also stated that the governor’s call was scientific and has been vindicated by a very desperate effort of Boko Haram leaders to stop their fighters from leaving their fold when a group of 16 members renounced the sect’s ideology in Borno State following which they were slaughtered by the sect leaders.
He said “Governor Kashim Shettima was misunderstood by many Nigerians when in his May 29 inaugural remarks, he revisited his stance of the need to apply a political solution to the Boko Haram by way of granting a window to admit those willing to surrender their arms and renounce the Boko Haram ideology.
“Shettima has held this position from his campaign days ahead of the 2011 elections for his first term. He had always advocated a combination of three approaches, military which is what we have in force; an economic approach to provide jobs for people and discourage citizens that Boko Haram insurgents are recruiting by paying them as little as N5,000 to set schools ablaze or spy on soldiers as well as paying women to smuggle arms from one point to the other.”
“Arrests were made and the military discovered the role economy plays in favour of insurgents. The third which seems to be the bone of contention is the political approach which in simple terms, means pardon to insurgents.
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