The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed why it cannot kill repentant Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.
According to the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, granting them amnesty and forgiving them was the proper thing to do.
Mohammed disclosed the Federal Government’s position on the matter, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Washington.
He said that killing or prosecuting terrorists was against global practices.
“I personally spoke to the military authority before I left Nigeria and they said what they were doing is what the global practice dictates about soldiers that surrendered that should be treated as prisoners of war.” Mohammed said.
“You cannot just shoot them because there are international conventions that give rights also to prisoners of war.
“What the military is doing is that, when they surrender, they profile them to ensure that they are genuine and reintegrate them into the society.”
Hundreds Boko Haram members recently surrendered to the military in the Northeast.
About 1,000 Boko Haram fighters have surrendered to army units in the southern Borno towns of Konduga, Bama, and Mafa.
Among those who surrendered were some Chibok girls who were married off to one of the terrorists.
