THE Arewa Consultative Forum has voiced their support for the offer of unconditional amnesty by the Federal Government to Boko Haram terrorists or any other groups who surrender their arms, denounce their militancy and then pledge their loyalty to the government is a welcome development.
This assertion was made in a press statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu.
The statement noted that “considering the insecurity posed by the insurgency in the last nine years, the offer of unconditional amnesty to Boko Haram and any terrorist group is a welcome development.”
“It will be recalled that the Biafran rebels and Niger Delta militants who denounced their rebellion and militancy against the state were not only granted amnesty but also empowered with skills and re-integrated into the society to contribute to its socio-economic development.
“The spirit of amnesty is, therefore, to stop the killings, destruction of property and also denounce further rebellion and militancy. So, any step taken by the Government to end the current security challenges in the country cannot be too costly as long as it is done in accordance with worldwide best practices.
To this end, “ACF, therefore, urges the insurgents and other militia groups to lay down their arms and embrace the Federal Government’s offer of amnesty as the only means to peaceful coexistence and development.
“This will also pave way for Nigeria to pursue order, justice, liberty, peace and prosperity for all,” it concluded.