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.”
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