Over 50 detained members of the Boko Haram sect have appealed to Federal Government to give them a second chance as they were ‘brain washed’ into picking up arms against the Nigerian state and its citizens.
The sect members made the appeal when the presidential committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in the North visited one of the detention centres in Maiduguri, Borno State capital on Tuesday.
According to one of the detainees Adam Konto, who introduced himself to the chairman of the committee, Kabir Turaki as the Amir (Commander) of the Bayan quarters, one of Boko Haram’s strongholds in Maiduguri, the detained members if released, will be law abiding and assist the FG in bringing the deadly insurgence to an end.
Konto, who claimed to be speaking on behalf of his comrades-at-arms said: “We pledge to assist the authorities if given a second chance as most of us were brainwashed and recruited into the sect and given instructions to carry out dastardly acts without our full understanding of what we were doing.”
Another detainee, who gave his name as Babagana Saje, said that he was ready to denounce the sect and commended the Police for taking good care of them.
He said: “The police have been treating us fine. We have been allowed to take our bath and have been well fed.”
In his response, after listening to the sect members’ submissions, Turaki, who is also Minister of Special Duties, promised to look into their cases.
He said: “If you are sincere with this information we have gathered, we will bring you into the proposed amnesty agenda.”
u people shuld not gv dem chance at all no matter what their pleas are, they will come back and do worst than they hav done… Once bitten, twice wise… Government be wise!!!
Na lie o…….death penality d only option
They should name their sponsors and mention who brainwashed them…then pardon them cos Christ is not happy with the death of a sinner
Hmm this people are criminals..how wil u grand terroriests who were cut in d act amnesty.?when d countr ask them to lay their arms they refuse that they are to give the goverment armnesty..if you grand them amnesty then you are a global criminal who is selfish of justice an hungry for money..if not what about the people in prison for stealing common mobile phone..or those who kill only 1 and are in life in prison or death row..stop trying to manipulate justice
They asked for second chance?what happen to those they killed,will they have second chance to live again?