Jonathan orders release of Boko Haram suspects

[PeoplesDaily]

By Joy Baba, Ikechukwu Okaforadi, Umar Muhammad Puma, Abuja & Edwin Olofu, Kano

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday ordered the release of all suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram Haram sect which is suspected to be behind insurgency activities in the country. This is coming as the National Assembly yesterday endorsed the declaration of state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

According to a release from the Defence Headquarters signed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade, the suspects are to be handed over to their various state governors.

He said the move was in furtherance of the Federal Government's position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.

The statement added that the measure which is in line with Presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country, will result in freedom for the suspects, including all women under custody. It reads in part: "The details of the directives and those to benefit from this gesture have been communicated to field units and the Joint Task Force.

"The beneficiaries will be released to the state governors who will be involved in further rehabilitation before these suspects are released to their respective community leaders/relations".

Responding to Jonathan's order to release the suspects, Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, through his spokesperson, Isa Umar Gusau, said "I am in the picture of the very welcome development and I look forward to receiving them. It is cheering news for me and the government of Borno State because it will no doubt help in fast-tracking the peaceful resolution process which like I have always said, remains the long term solution to the crisis.

"Releasing the detainees will further show the commitment and sincerity of the federal government to the peace negotiation which should attract the sect members to the negotiation table and increase community participation in the process. The state government is dutifully committed to every lawful and reasonable efforts that aims at the return of peace and security of lives and property in Borno, the Northern region and Nigeria in its entirety since no society can achieve any meaningful and steady progress in an atmosphere of violence."

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Presidential committee on dialogue with Boko Haram members, popularly called the Amnesty Committee, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has described the order for the release of some suspects as welcome development because it is in line with the recommendation of the committee for an amicable resolution of the crisis.

Turaki said when contacted by Peoples Daily yesterday that the committee received with a lot of optimism, the information of the decision of the Defence headquarters to release some vulnerable detainees with links with Boko Haram members.

The decision, he said, shows sincerity and faithfulness towards pursuing genuine reconciliation, adding that the committee has resolved not to leave any stone unturned in engaging the Boko Haram in a meaningful dialogue for amicable resolution of the crisis.

"We call on the Boko Haram members to give us an opportunity to dialogue with them for peace, because we believe that whatever dialogue cannot achieve, violence cannot achieve. With the order for the release of some suspects, there is no alternative to peace. If the Boko Haram members believe in the Holy Qur'an and the practice of the prophet, the best option is to give peace a chance and accept dialogue. We believe that if they are after the practice of Islam, they should welcome government's gesture and accept dialogue."

The Senate at yesterday's plenary unanimously approved the state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno by President Jonathan, urging the federal government to ensure adequate funding of the operation.

Speaking after the closed door session, the Senate President, David Mark, said it was appropriate to adequately fund the operation so as to ensure that enough medicals are sent to the affected states to reduce the sufferings of the people.

Mark also urged the Boko Haram insurgents in the states to corporate with the operation to ensure that the crisis is brought to a permanent end, adding that the Amnesty committee should also work with the authorities in the states towards resolving the problem.

He further urged the states not affected by Boko Haram and the emergency rule to corporate with the military and the government to bring the problem to an end.

While admitting that military power is not the solution to the problem, the Senate also urged the soldiers to abide by the rules of engagement, by ensuring that human rights are not abused.

Similarly, the state of emergency was unanimously endorsed in the House of Representatives but it maintained that governors and local government chairmen of the affected states should continue to be in charge of general administration of territories under emergrncy rule. Another clause also stated that the emergency rule shall only apply to the affected states with regard to the security, order and safety in the affected states and local government areas.

The House also resolved that funds accruing to the affected states and local government areas must not be tampered with by troops and security personnel enforcing the emergency rule just as it recommended that victims of terrorist attacks should be compensated by the Federal government.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal also announced the establishment of a six member conference Committee to harmonise the resolutions of the House and that of the Senate. The Committee is expected to submit its report to the House tomorrow. Members of the committee include Sam Tsokwa (Chairman) Nkoyo Toyo, Ahmad Ali, Aminu Shagari, Ben Nwankwo and Nathaniel Agunbiade.

Meanwhile, Kano state Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said that stakeholders in the country, including government, politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders and parents are to be held accountable for the state of insecurity facing he country.

Kwankwaso who was speaking at the Government House, Kano yesterday when he received members of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of security challenges in the North, traced the security problem to failure of the leaders to take full responsibility of governance and offer dividends of democracy to the people.

"The parents, the communities, the Local Government authorities, state government and the Federal Government are all guilty of the insurgency that is facing this country, we are all guilty."

He also lamented what he described as the loss of family values, "parents no longer take responsibility of their family. We have a situation in this part of the country where parents give birth to 20 to 30 children, chose only two out of them and send the rest away to God knows where.

"Children are sent to places that they don't know. They are left to fend for themselves. We have a situation where you go round the city and find garrison of children—able-bodied youths begging.

"These children were abandoned by their parents and they were sent away and brought into the state. They grow up to hate themselves, hate their parents, hate the leaders, hate the government and the society. They feel they were deprived, they feel injustice and they become enemies of the state and constituted authorities; and thereby becoming vulnerable to crime and violence.

"These are the bitter pills we must swallow—that we are all guilty of what is happening today. We have to wake up and rise up to the challenges. What started in Yobe and Borno is everywhere in the North, it may eventually envelope the country if we don't check it now. It is a national issue that must be addressed," Kwankwaso stated.

The governor, who is also a former Defence Minister, called on the government and Nigerians to eschew greed and ensure that what is meant for the people goes round.

To end the Boko Haram insurgency, Kwankwaso advised, "we should keep our eyes on what is happening; our leaders must plan properly — long-term planning. We must also do away with the issue of planning for a second-term while the business of governance suffers.

"As a former Defence Minister, I advise that the rule of engagement must be strictly followed by soldiers deployed to those areas we have emergency rule. I appeal to those affected in this insurgency to come to the table and dialogue. We have to reduce the issue of greed, if we cannot eliminate it. We have to ensure that the right thing is done under the worst circumstance. We also have to control our emotion," Kwankwaso noted.

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[Folami David]

I just pray whatever decisions he takes right now as the president of this country is RIGHT. There is no room for mistakes...