Borno state governor makes case for amnesty programme

chika ebuzor

July 13, 2015 6:06 AM

Governor Kashim Shettima was misunderstood by many Nigerians when in his May 29 inaugural remarks revisited his stance.

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has made a case for a Federal Government backed Boko-Haram amnesty programme.

This is coming on the heels of the foiled bomb incident at Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Jos.

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Gov. Shettima said "the murderous ideology is one key proof that an amnesty programme targeted at creating an exit window for forcefully conscripted members is capable of reducing the number of Boko Haram fighters."

Adding that recently, 16 members renounced the terror group.

He was speaking at an interactive session organised by the Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau, with selected journalists in Abuja.

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Buttressing the Governor's point, Gusau said "Governor Kashim Shettima was misunderstood by many Nigerians when in his May 29 inaugural remarks revisited his stance on the need to apply a political solution to fighting the Boko Haram by way of granting a window to admit those willing to surrender their arms and renounce the Boko Haram ideology."

Adding that "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, which are: the military which is what we have in place, an economic approach which is aimed at providing jobs for people and discourage citizens that Boko Haram terrorists are recruiting."

Boko Haram recently released a joint video with ISIS.

chika ebuzor