Amnesty for Boko Haram premature – ex-SSS director

A former director of the State Security Service, Mr. Mike Ejioffor, has described the call for amnesty for the violent Boko Haram sect as premature, saying amnesty will not yield desired results, if applied at this stage of the conflict. Ejioffor, who is the Chairman of Apex Security Consultants, told SUNDAY PUNCH that those who were calling for amnesty for the “terrorist” group were either ignorant or mischievous.
He said, “The issue of amnesty does not arise at this stage. Amnesty is considered at the last stage of a conflict like this. And it has to be done after the leaders of the group have presented themselves for negotiation.
“I have said it before that Nigeria is fighting an international war. Many people think Boko Haram is a local group, but it is a terrorist group, with international links and allies. So, those people calling for amnesty for Boko Haram are either doing so as a result of lack of knowledge or they are being mischievous. We cannot be talking about amnesty while people are being killed by these terrorists.”
He commended the Senate for praising the efforts of security agencies in the fight against Bokoo Haram and for passing a death sentence on terrorists.
“Everybody should be involved in this war – the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Executive. In fact every Nigerian should play his part in fighting the menace,” Ejioffor said.
He added that the war in Mali had adversely affected Boko Haram, and had resulted in the arrest and killing of many of its leaders.
“Presently, Boko Haram has no clear leadership and that is the reason for the current haphazard attacks it has been doing in recent days,” he said.