Religious leaders under the auspices of Northern Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations of Nigeria (NIFROM) have urged the federal government to consider instituting a presidential amnesty programme to members of the Boko Haram sect operating in the northeast similar to that granted to former Niger Delta militants.

The group said in a statement signed by its coordinator, Bishop Musa Fomson, that following the success recorded by the amnesty programme in the Niger Delta, there was the need to replicate it in the northern part of the country currently ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

He noted that even as the military made gains against the insurgents, the use of force alone might not be able to win the war against terrorism.

The Bishops specifically commended the efforts of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd.), especially in the management of funds.

They expressed pleasure that the office has already trained 17,322 of the beneficiaries, leaving a balance of 12,678, while embarking on the domestication of its programmes.

“Since taking over the amnesty program, Boroh has restored hope to many of the agitators. We believe that with such confidence in a man who can be trusted, such program can be replicated in the troubled northern part of the country,” he said.

Credit: Thisday