Stop reintegrating ‘repentant’ Boko Haram terrorists, Senator Ndume tells Buhari
* Says it’s inhuman to pamper terrorists, abandon victims in IDP camps
By Steve Oko
Infuriated by the penchant of the President Muhammadu Buhari -led administration in releasing captured Boko Haram fighters under the guise that they have repented, Senator Ali Ndume representing Borno South district has asked the President to immediately stop such provocative and suspicious action.
This is as the recent release and reintegration of 601 so-called repentant Boko Haram fighters have sparked public outrage, with some Nigerians accusing federal government of duplicity and double standard over the war against insurgency.
The Senate Committee Chairman on Army who made the call on Wednesday faulted the Federal Government’s amnesty for repentant Boko Haram terrorists, said it was encouraging more insurgents joining the terror group.
Ndume who was reacting to a report of a repentant Boko Haram member, who killed his father, stole his wealth and disappeared after reintegration, the the ongoing amnesty to repentant Boko Haram fighters was counter productive.
He alleged that most of the insurgents recently integrated into the community had since gone back to their old ways.
The senator who said the programme was unacceptable, called on Buhari to halt it as it is generating bad blood in society.
Speaking in a British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa programme monitored in Kaduna on Wednesday, he queried the rationale behind government investing hugely on repentant insurgents
He said rather than training Boko Haram that won’t appreciate it, those in the IDP camps should be trained in various trades and vocations.
The lawmaker said, “They are like Kharajites. Many among those released have since run away. They will never repent. The government should know what to do about them, but not reintroducing someone to you, who has killed your parents or your relations.
“Not that he even apologised to you; he apologised to the government. His thinking was that government has failed and that is why they are being pampered. This government’s programme is unacceptable to our people. The right thing is to stop it forthwith.
“If there is sincerity of purpose, those in the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps should be trained in various trades and vocations, so that they can start life again.”
Meanwhile, a widow, who was featured in the programme, berated the Federal Government for training repentant insurgents to be reintegrated into the community.
She claimed that the insurgents killed her husband and now left with four children, wondering why the government was pampering the so-called repentant insurgents.
She said, “This is hurting. They (Boko Haram) killed my husband in my presence. They killed my son. I am left suffering with four young orphans. Till death, I will never forget that day.”
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