But Christian Victims Unmentioned as Terrorists Get Enticed: War Zone Clergy
By Mike Odeh James and Luka Binniyat
(Abuja) Terrorist bandits in Birnin Gwari, in Kaduna State, even those who have committed crimes against humanity, appear to have been offered an amnesty for surrendering their arms, according to Gov. Uba Sani on Nov. 29. A Channels TV anchor interviewing Gov. Sani the Nov. 30 said the governor was offering “some kind of amnesty.”
Strong pushback was registered by Christian leaders interviewed by TruthNigeria. On November 29, 2024, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, announced that several senior bandit leaders had laid down their arms and embraced peace, along with their followers and that those who surrendered are been given amnesty.
“This development comes after numerous meetings and extensive discussions, which have helped build bridges of trust,” Sani said.
“As part of the peace process, these former bandits are being enrolled in a rehabilitation program designed by the Kaduna State Government in partnership with the Federal Government,” Sani said of negotiations he has overseen for the previous six months. The Governor said all stakeholders were in engaged, “including farmers, herders and traders.” The governor did not mention the tens of thousands of Kaduna Christian farmers whose relatives were murdered, or thousands of persons kidnapped, as a stakeholder group.
The governor was tight-lipped about the exact number of terrorists who surrendered and the terms of their surrender. However, TruthNigeria managed to obtain the true figures from journalists who accompanied the governor to Birnin Gwari, where he received the terrorists.
According to journalists speaking to TruthNigeria on background, around 200 Fulani terrorists, including notorious individuals such as Yellow Jambros, Alhaji Mallam, and Dogo Gide, have surrendered. Dogo Gide is negotiating with the government regarding the terms of his surrender and is expected to be part of the next batch of terrorists to surrender.
Dogo Gide and Yellow Jambros are notorious terrorists who have killed, kidnapped, raped, enslaved and displaced hundreds of Christians in Southern Kaduna and Niger State. The bandit terrorist kingpins who have a refuge in Birnin Gwari County, in Kaduna, but on the border with Zamfara, are known to control extortion businesses across Zamfara that rake in $10 million a year in that state, TruthNigeria has reported.
Blighted Amnesties Offered by Northwest Governors To Bandit-Terrorists
In 2019, the governors of Nigeria’s North West states, including Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi, made a controversial decision to grant amnesty to Fulani terrorists, regardless of their crimes. This move was announced by then-Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State.
Critics argued that this amnesty ignored the victims of these terrorists and, in some cases, provided material incentives such as cash, vehicles, and houses to the terrorists themselves.
Nigerian Government Under Fire For Pampering Terrorists
While millions of Christians refugees who are victims of Boko Haram and Fulani militia are languishing in IDP camps, the perpetrators of the violence are been pampered by the Nigerian state
Critics are slamming Nigerian governors for granting amnesty to terrorists, with Rev. David Ayuba Azzaman, assistant general overseer of Kings Worship Centre and Ministry Kaduna, calling it “a betrayal of the victims of terror, especially Christians.” He also accused Northern Governors of encouraging terrorists to the detriment of Christians.
Azzaman cited the case of Rev. Paul Musa and his wife, who were kidnapped in Gomburo Gala, Borno State, in March 2023. Despite the Borno State Government’s refusal to intervene to secure his release, the Borno State Government is paying stipends to repentant Boko Haram members.
Azzaman argued that both state and federal governments should not pay stipends or grant amnesty to Boko Haram members or Fulani terrorists, but rather compensate the victims of their terror.
Borno State Offers to Repentant Boko Haram Members
Similarly, in what it terms a bid to encourage Boko Haram members (who have killed, raped and displaced millions) to lay down their arms, the Borno State government has provided repentant insurgents with a monthly stipend of ₦20,000 to ₦30,000 (as of 2022-2023).
When contacted by TruthNigeria, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar denied that Borno state is not paying repentant Boko Haram members any stipend, but he admitted that the ex-militants were housed, de-radicalized and given some start up kits. Nonetheless, checks by TruthNigeria showed otherwise.
As part of the rehabilitation process, these former militants are required to swear an oath on the Qur’an, promising not to return to their violent past.
In addition to the financial support, the state government also provides startup kits to help these individuals establish businesses of their choice, aimed at reintegrating them into society.
Middle Belt Forum Reacts
The Middle Belt Forum, Kaduna State chapter, also strongly condemned the amnesty granted to Fulani terrorists in Birnin Gwari. According to the forum, “Some of the criminals are among the most dangerous wanted outlaws in Nigeria. The Nigerian military have placed price tags on their heads due to the grievous crimes they have committed against citizens and the Nigeria state.”
The forum emphasized that individuals responsible for heinous crimes, including killing thousands, raping, and displacing hundreds of thousands of people, do not deserve to go free. “No persons that carried out the scale of massive heartless cruelty for over a decade – killing thousands, raping and displacing hundreds of thousands into conditions of destitution that these terrorists are accused of – deserve to go free,” according to a forum press release.
The forum also noted that past governments of Zamfara and Katsina states have attempted similar amnesty programs, which ultimately led to an escalation of criminal activity by the bandits. “It is on record that past Governments of Zamfara and Katsina state have tried such an exercise and it ended up in escalating the criminality of the bandits who are absolutely not persons of honour and integrity and, as such, their words cannot be trusted,” the forum stated.
Furthermore, the forum questioned the authority of state governors to grant amnesty to individuals accused of federal crimes, such as banditry, mass murder, and terrorism. “We do not know where Nigerian State Governors are drawing powers to forgive persons accused of Federal crimes, such as banditry, capture and occupying Nigeria territories, mass murder and sundry grim crimes,” the forum release states.
Mike Odeh James and Luka Binniyat are Conflict Reporters with TruthNigeria
