The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has reacted to a report which surfaced online that 800 Boko Haram members had been granted amnesty.
The DHQ condemned the report, stating that it was false.
A statement by the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, called on the public to disregard it, stressing that it would not tolerate acts of terrorism or criminality by any group.
As stated by the DHQ, the decision to rehabilitate repentant members of Boko Haram is based on a United Nations convention and could not be considered as amnesty.
The statement reads, “The attention of Defence Headquarters has been drawn to online Media stating that 800 Boko Haram Terrorists were given Amnesty.
“The story is false and has no iota of truth in it as DHQ has never mentioned Amnesty in all its statement.
“In line with United Nations convention Charter, which Nigeria is a signatory, The Defence Headquarters came up with an initiative “Öperation Safe Corridor”, this initiative is geared towards rehabilitating and reintegrating the repentant terrorists back into normal life in the society.
“The general public should therefore disregard these insinuations as the initiative “Operation Safe Corridor” should not be taken as Amnesty.
“We hereby emphasize and stand our position that no act of Terrorism or Criminality will be condoned in our nation by any group. Please be guided,” the statement added.
Recall that it was reported on Monday that the Director General, DG, of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sidi had stated no fewer than 800 repented members of the Boko Haram sect were currently undergoing various training and acquisition exercise which was being handled by the military and monitored by the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS.
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