Why Boko Haram Members Should Be Encouraged To Surrender — Senate President, Ahmad Lawan

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said on Monday that more Boko Haram members should be encouraged to surrender.

He said the news that the terrorists are coming out of their trenches to surrender to Nigerian troops is “a welcome development”.

Lawan stated this in Maiduguri, Borno State at the Palace of Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi, according to a press statement on Monday.

The Senate President seized the opportunity of the condolence visit to reassure the people that the Federal Government would continue to work with the State authorities to ensure restoration of peace and stability in the region.

He said, “I want to take this opportunity to mention that the Federal government of Nigeria will continue to work with Borno State Government to ensure that there is restoration of peace and stability in this state and in this part of the country.

“The recent surrender by Boko Haram elements is a good development for the security of this country. Personally, I believe that the Federal government must work with the Borno State Government and other states in this part of the country to ensure that those that have been received are appropriately processed.

“Those that have no issues to answer are sanitised and taking back to their communities. Those that may have issues to answer should be taken through the legal processes but we must ensure that we encourage Boko Haram elements and those they have taken by force to come out to surrender so that this unnecessary insurgency placed on us comes to an end.

“And I want to assure you, Your Royal Highness, that the National Assembly and particularly the Senate will work very closely with the Borno State Government in this respect.

“I believe there is no need for any controversy over what we need to do with people who surrendered. In any war, in every war, surrender is the ultimate and if we can achieve it, we should do everything and anything possible to encourage more and more to come out so that we are able to come to the end of this unnecessary insurgency that has taken our States back for so many years in term of development.”

Responding, the Shehu of Borno said his people had “seriously suffered as a result of Boko Haram crisis.”

He said the news that Boko Haram elements are surrendering “is a welcome development” because “Borno is a home of peace and we are for peace.”