Islamic sect, Boko Haram has said
that the Shura Council, the highest decision-making organ of the sect led by
Imam Abubakar Ibn Shekau, which has the power to decide whether the sect will
accept the offer of amnesty being planned by the Federal Government is yet to
take a decision on the offer even as another faction of the sect has publicly
rejected the amnesty saying the group did not ask for it.
The Federal Government last week set
up a committee to look at the feasibility or otherwise of granting amnesty to
the sect members in a bid to put an end to the spate of violence in the North.
Spokesman of a faction of the sect,
Abu Dardam, however, spoke on the Hausa service of the BBC that the group was
rejecting the offer of amnesty by the government. The group also said that it
will not accept the amnesty which the Governor Alhaji Kashim Shettima promised
to offer them.
Abu Dardam stated that the group was
rejecting the amnesty because they don't recognize democracy as a form of
government and that the group does not agree with the constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, arguing that justice can only be found in the Holy
Quran, that is Shariya system of government.
Borno Govt appeals for peace
Borno State Commissioner of Home
Affairs Information and Culture Mr. Hyeladi Inuwa Bwala, in his reaction
appealed to the group to see reason and embrace dialogue with a view to
restoring lasting peace in BornoState. He noted that most wars and crisis in
the world were settled mostly through dialogue, and therefore called on the
group to see wisdom in the amnesty offer and come to a round table for
dialogue.
Imam Abubakar Ibn Shekau-led Boko
Haram, however, said only its highest decision-making organ, Shura Council has
the power to take a decision whether or not to accept the amnesty. A credible
source close to the sect explained that the Shura Council is Boko Haram's apex
council and highest decision-making organ of the sect while all cells of the
organization are represented in the council.
The source explained that everything
about the proposed amnesty would be deliberated upon and thereafter subjected
to the group's Islamic theology and jurisprudence.
According to the source, "Shura
Council may surprise Nigerians, because they may agree and may not agree. It
depends on their understanding and Islamic theology and the jurisprudence they
are following. They are above what people think about them, they are highly
ideological and hold their beliefs high. They are committed Mujahideens and
highly committed to their cause. I know this rather well." The source
disclosed that the Shura Council would act according to the tenets of their
faith.
Gunmen attack church in Maiduguri
Meanwhile, some gunmen suspected to
be members of the Boko Haram sect yesterday attacked the Ekliziyar Yan'uwa a
Nigeriya (Church of Brethren), also known as EYN in Bulumkutu ward of
Maiduguri, the Borno state capital injuring one policeman even as another set
of gunmen abducted a former chairman of Abadam local council of Borno state,
Alhaji Mustapha Gadobe,, weekend and demanded N50 million ransom from the state
government or he will be killed.
The gunmen who attacked the church
came in a Keke Napep (tricycle) at about 11:02am when the service was going on
opening fire on the JTF troops deployed to the church to protect lives of and
property. JTF troops however repelled the attack and in the process a policeman
was injured on his leg
According to an eye witness,
"the gunmen numbering about five came on a tricycle and started shooting
at the JTF security personnel attached to the church, but the JTF responded
swiftly."
When contacted on phone for
confirmation, the JTF Spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa confirmed the
incident.
He said at about 11am, some Boko
Haram suspects attempted to attack the JTF location at the EYN church in
Bulumkutu ward of Maiduguri Metropolis, but were repelled, pointing out that
one policeman sustained gunshot injury on his leg. The problem was treated and
immediately discharged from the hospital.
The abducted former council boss,
Gadobe was said to have been kidnapped near a Maiduguri suburb, Wadiya by the
gunmen who hurriedly bundled him into his Toyota FJ Cruiser and drove off to
unknown destination.
It was gathered that a serving
member of Borno state house of Assembly was currently handling the negotiation
between the kidnappers and Borno state government.
A top political appointee informed
our Correspondent in confidence that the abductors threatened to kill their
hostage when the said mediator offered a N3 million cash payment as against the
N50 million earlier demanded.
'We learnt that the family members
of the former council chairman and the mediator had on Saturday offered to pay
N3 million an offer that was said to have angered the kidnappers who vowed to
kill Gadobe should such ridiculous amount be mentioned again', said the source.
It was further learnt that another
offer of N10 million was yesterday advanced to the abductors which was still
turned down.
A top official of the DSS confirmed
the abduction but declined giving details of steps being taken to rescue the
kidnapped politician.
Embrace peace initiative -Atiku
tells militia groups
In a related development former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar urged members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace taking
advantage of the constitution of an Amnesty Committee on the insurgency by
President Goodluck Jonathan.
Reacting to the weekend attack on
the private residence of the Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Bala James Ngillari
by some armed men and the massacre of policemen in Bayelsa State, the former
Vice
President in a statement yesterday urged the militia groups in the country
to lay down their arms, saying not laying down arms portend grave consequences
for the country.
The former presidential aspirant on
the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who noted that aggrieved
members of any society have the right to express their grievances, but warned
that taking up arms and killing other citizens was the most bizarre way of
expressing such grievances.
Atiku Abubakar who noted that no
government can condone such a recourse to impunity as it undermines national
stability and cohesion, said, ''Armed groups in the country should take the
full advantage of the window of opportunity of a peace deal being put together
by the Federal Government to negotiate for a peaceful conflict
resolution."
Source:
Vanguard
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