Nigeria begs Boko Haram to accept amnesty

Originally published in All Africa.com

A group known as Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) Wednesday in Abuja chided the federal government for giving in to the calls for grant of amnesty to members of Jam’atul Ahlis Sunna-lidawati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram.

Speaking at the opening of the group’s meeting, the chairman, Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye said, “It seems government is begging Boko Haram to accept amnesty.”

“If we start begging the offender, what do we do to the offended?

“If amnesty is granted to Boko Haram, all those awaiting trial in our prisons and the armed robbers already jailed should be granted amnesty. This is equity and fair play.”

Owojaiye regretted that Christians have paid so many prices since independence to sustain the corporate existence of Nigeria yet Christians have not gained much.

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“While we’re to turn the other cheek when we’re slapped, the master didn’t say, ‘If they cut one of your legs, present them with the second leg for cutting.’

“What is going on in the northern states is not the slapping of cheeks but the cutting of legs!”

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The chairman who dwelt on the risks at stake itemized: the risk of Nigeria not remaining one; the risk of Christians being wiped out of northern Nigeria; and the risk of an all religious or civil war.