Radical Sect Boko Haram Rejects Amnesty Offer

Source: THEWILL. - thewillnigeria.com
SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOKO HARAM SECT ARRESTED DURING A RAID OF THEIR HIDEOUT IN MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE, BY SECURITY FORCES SOME MONTHS AGO.
SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOKO HARAM SECT ARRESTED DURING A RAID OF THEIR HIDEOUT IN MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE, BY SECURITY FORCES SOME MONTHS AGO.

MAIDUGURI, May 09, (THEWILL) – A radical Islamic sect operating mainly in Borno State with pockets of influence in a few northern states has said it would not accept a proposed amnesty offer made by the Governor-elect of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

The sect which calls itself Boko Haram, meaning western education is sinful, is known to have terrorized residents of Borno, Bauchi, Adamawa, and environs killing many people in the process.

The group is also credited with orchestrating a couple of jail breaks to free its detained members.

But recall that Shettima after he was declared winner of the Borno governorship race immediately extended the olive branch to the sect and even expressed his openness to amnesty talks with members.

However, in a BBC Hausa Service interview broadcast monitored by our correspondent in Maiduguri, the spokesman of the sect, Abu Dardam said it could not negotiate with a government that it considers non-existent.

Dardam maintained the group’s earlier position that it neither recognizes the Nigerian constitution nor its democratically elected government.

“We do not recognize the person inviting us for dialogue and would never recognize him as long as his government is being operated under the constitution,” the sect’s spokesperson stated.