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SERAP flays planned amnesty for repented Boko Haram insurgents

By Bertram Nwanneknama
26 March 2018   |   4:25 am
A group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to grant amnesty to repented Boko Haram insurgents.

Boko Haram suspects

A group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to grant amnesty to repented Boko Haram insurgents.

Its Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, made the appeal in an open letter to the president.

The group urged Buhari to: “drop the proposed policy to grant them amnesty in the interests of justice.

It said it would be counter-productive, and justify impunity by the insurgents to continue to undermine peace and stability in the country.

The organisation said government should rather: “Prioritise justice for the victims of Boko Haram and help them to rebuild and get on with their lives.

“This is better than pushing to remove accountability for the mass atrocities committed against the millions of Nigerian women, men, children and the elderly, and allowing those responsible to escape justice.”

“Boko Haram insurgents should never be allowed to escape the consequences of their crimes, if the authorities must prevent a cycle of revenge that could lead to further violence and conflicts.

Adewale said: “We believe that granting amnesty to Boko Haram would be an open violation of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), as well as the international law and would entail a virtual denial of justice for victims.”

SERAP further disclosed that: “The international community is pushing for accountability for those who commit the worst of human crimes. It no longer tolerates amnesty for war crimes, crimes against humanity or other gross violations of human rights.”

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