Arewa Consultative Forum has stated that repentant Boko Haram terrorists should be prosecuted for their crimes against Nigerians and humanity.
Speaking, the National Chairman of ACF, Chief Audu Ogbeh, in a statement personally signed and released by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Emmanuel Yawe in Kaduna on Tuesday said the apology is not enough to bring relief to Nigerians.
The statement is titled, ‘On repentant Boko Haram terrorists and the principle of equity and justice’ stated that there was no difference between the terrorists and Igboho’s or ESN of Nigeria.
It read, “We are currently witnessing large scale surrender of large numbers of Boko Haram insurgents, among whom are bomb makers, commanders, arsonists, rapists, and child snatchers.
“Do we have good reason to cheer and hope for an end to this decade-old insanity? Is ‘I am sorry’ enough to bring relief to Nigerians and the thousands of dead and maimed? What of those victims bombed in the churches, mosques, schools, and markets? What of all the men and women in uniform murdered by them?
“Who can count the thousands of widows and orphans they have created? And what is the difference between them and the Igboho’s or ESN of Nigeria? None.
“So, what do we do with them? Should we just embrace them and trust them wholesale? Are their moves informed by altruistic repentance? We seriously doubt it.
“We join the Governor of Borno, the Shehu of Borno, Senator Ndume and millions of Nigerians in pondering over this development and our simple advice is, bring them to trial, or free all others presently in custody anywhere, while we Nigerians plead guilty of naivety and gullibility in the extreme, punishable by more insurrection and anarchy.”
Source: Punch
