U-TURN: FG Yet To Make Pronouncement On Surrendered Boko Haram Members-Minister

The Federal Government contrary to the insinuation that it has pardoned Boko Haram insurgents may either have rescinded or totally made a U-turn from its alleged initial pardon.

This followed by the statement that the federal government is yet to make definite pronouncement on what will become of surrendered Boko Haram members, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama has said.

Onyeama spoke on Saturday amidst growing concerns over rumoured plans by the government to reintegrate the surrendered Boko Haram commandants and others to the society.

He spoke at the 2021 annual public lecture of the Society for International Relations Awareness (SIRA) in Abuja with the theme “Continuity and change in Nigeria’s foreign policy under President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Many Nigerians have argued the terrorists should face the consequences of their deeds rather than being pardoned or rehabilitated by the government.

But Onyeama said the Federal Government was yet to decide what to do with them.

Addressing the gathering, which includes foreign diplomats, the Minister said: “The mechanisms we are adopting are local and we are looking at experience from other countries in taking a definitive decision on what to do. I guess we would also look at individual case.

“We can’t just have a blanket decision. There are so many aspects to that but the government is yet to take a definite decision on that. I think very soon, we would have a definite position.”

On the country’s foreign policy, he said it is difficult to say as it varies from one country to another.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari as arrow head of the country’s engagement diplomacy has yielded much fruit with the appointment of many Nigerians into global and continental bodies.