Northern CAN faults FG amnesty programme

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The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria has faulted the Federal Government’s amnesty programme for repentant terrorists amid the rising terror attacks gripping the region.

Established in 2015, the Federal Government’s amnesty programme, primarily executed through Operation Safe Corridor, has been a subject of significant debate and criticism.

The programme aims to deradicalise, rehabilitate, and reintegrate former insurgents into society through psychological counselling, vocational training, and religious orientation.

According to reports, over 1,500 individuals had undergone the process as of 2023, with 613 slated for reintegration into their respective states.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that approximately N1.4bn was spent on the programme and the establishment of trial centres by the government between December 2022 and May 2024.

However, the programme has continued to face backlash from various quarters, following a troubling surge in violent attacks, which have snowballed into mass killings, shattering many communities and leaving hundreds dead.

One of the deadliest of these attacks occurred in Benue, where at least 56 people were killed by suspected herdsmen during coordinated assaults on the Ukum and Logo areas of the state between April 17 and 18.

Also in April, 40 people lost their lives after armed men stormed the Zike community in the Kwall district of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Similarly, 57 people were killed in Borno State last Thursday by militants linked to Boko Haram. Punch