Let’s encourage more Boko Haram members to surrender, says Lawan

Borno gives ex-terrorists terms for re-integration, inaugurates panel on public disturbance
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has described the reported voluntary surrender of Boko Haram elements to Nigerian troops as a welcome development that should be encouraged.

Special Adviser Media to President of the Senate, Ola Awoniyi, in a statement, quoted his principal to have stated this at the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi, in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Lawan was at the palace in company of Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, on condolence visit to the monarch, who lost his elder brother, and to the family of former Foreign Affairs minister, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, over the death of his mother-in-law.

BORNO State Government has set three conditions for the re-integration of 3,900 Boko Haram ‘repentant’ terrorists into communities.

The conditions for the ‘repentant’ terrorists were contained in 16-point communiqué signed by the Commissioner for Justice, Kaka Lawan, after yesterday’s stakeholders’ meeting in Maiduguri.

According to the stakeholders, the Federal Government should handle the issue of the terrorists with utmost care and according to the law.

The stakeholders, including the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar El-Kanemi, and other traditional and religious leaders, called for the retrieval of all weapons used by the terrorists during the 12-year insurgency.

“We strongly advocate the strengthening of the deradicalisation mechanism of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC).

“The repentant terrorists should enrol their children into schools, as a counter measure to indoctrination,” said the Borno government.

Commending the Federal Government for equipping security operatives to fight insurgency that resulted in the surrender of many terrorists, the stakeholders reiterated the need for more support to all victims of insurgency, particularly women and children.

HOWEVER, Zulum has inaugurated an eight-man commission of inquiry over public disturbance and threats in Maiduguri metropolis.

According to him, the state government will not fold its arms to allow persons or groups of people to threaten communities.

Muhammad Umaru leads the commission, while Hajiya Adama Umar will serve as the secretary.

The panel is expected to submit its report to the governor on September 30, 2021.