Senators, Reps back amnesty for Boko Haram

MEMBERS of the National Assembly from Borno state yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to grant the alleged terrorist group Boko Haram an unconditionalamnesty to quell the menace of the sect in the state.
The unrest in the state also led to the rescue of over 50 students of Cross River origin who were stranded in the University of Maiduguri by Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba.
The legislators under the Borno State Caucus of the National Assembly, led by Senator Maina Maji Lawan also asked President Jonathan to withdraw the Joint Military Task Force, JTFfrom Maiduguri, the state capital and negotiate with the sect.
Senator Maji Lawan accompanied by Senators Mohammed Ndume, Ahmed Zana, and House of Representatives members Amuna Khadi, Muktar Aliyu andKyari Gugbawu told journalists in Abuja that the presence of JTF has escalated violence in Maduguri.
The Caucus observed that the use of force by the JTF will not bring an end to the crisis, while lamenting that the JTF has sacked Maiduguri through senseless killings of innocent Nigerians and burning of houses and cars.
He said, “We the National Assembly members from Borno State, having met and reviewed the security situation vis-à-vis the increased deployment of troops and other security agencies, observe that the situation is deteriorating by the day causing untold hardship on the innocent citizens.
“The caucus is further worried by the mass exodus of people with its attendant and concomitant effect of rendering people refugees. We are also worried by the closure of academic institutions, banks andother business as well as relevant agencies.
“The caucus resolves as follows; urged the President and Commander-in-Chief toorder for the withdrawal of the military from Maiduguriand its environs. The Federal Government should engage the Yusufiya group in dialogue in order to finda lasting solution to the crisis.”