Nigeria’s Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has stated that reports of Boko Haram fighters coming out of their hideouts to surrender to the Nigerian forces is a welcome development and should be encouraged.
Lawan made this assertion in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, at the Palace of the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi on Monday.
The Senate President was on a condolence visit to the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi who lost his elder brother; and a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe over his mother-in-law’s death, Lawan
He said; ‘We have come to condole you over the death of your elder brother that occurred recently. May his soul rest in Ajanaah Firdausi.
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‘This is a loss not only to you, Your Highness but to all of us. That is why we have deemed it fit and necessary to come and condole with you, the family and the good people of Borno State.
‘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 taken back to their communities. Those that may have issues to answer should be taken through the legal process 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.
‘I want to also commend you, Your Royal Highness, for the leadership and fatherly role you have been given in this state and in this part of the country and the country at large.
‘The Federal Government is devoting so much resources for our security agencies to fight and bring insecurity to an end. Recently, the National Assembly approved over 800 billion naira for our security agencies in a supplementary budget and Mr. President has assured us that he will bring more requests for more resources for our security agencies in 2022 appropriation bill which may be presented at the end of September by the Grace of God.
‘We pray to Almighty God to continue to guide our leaders at all levels, to protect our leaders at all levels and of course, to protect the people of this country,’ Lawan said.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
