Nigerians are sharply divided over amnesty for
terrorists who have held Northern Nigeria hostage.
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It is not the first time religious extremists are embarking on their avowed mission to force Islam on Nigeria, a multi-religious, secular state.
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The only differences are the duration and the magnitude of loss of lives. The stridency of the movement's leaders does not indicate any penitence.
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The decision of some politicians to mix criminality with opposition politics has added new dimensions to efforts to end the insurgency.
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The clamour for amnesty, which the attackers have rejected, is coming from quarters without control over the group, which means there are no guarantees that amnesty will stop the attacks.
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Some Nigerians believe amnesty would entice those among the terrorists who are tired to rejoin normal society as law abiding citizens. They buttress their argument by pointing to the calming effect the policy had in the Niger Delta.
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Terrorism in the North differs in objective and scope with the Niger Delta where the issue was economic justice. The ideological impetus of Al Qaeda global terror network makes amnesty an inappropriate response to the challenge. The group has justified this stand by rejecting the offer.
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Would amnesty change the belief of the terrorists?
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We are dealing with a faith-propelled terrorism with support from abroad. Amnesty cannot pacify the group. A combination of methods – amnesty for those who want it and frontal battles with those who refuse it – should be applied. It was the case in the Niger Delta.
Whatever they want to do let them do. All we just want is the total eradication of the terrosits troubling Nigeria.