Nigeria Sets Up Amnesty Panel to Avoid Religious War

ICC Note:
Following threats made by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to target Muslims for violent attacks, Nigeria’s federal government has set up a panel to work out an amnesty offer for militants of Boko Haram. MEND threatened to attack Muslims until Boko Haram publicly announced it would no longer target Christians as a part of its bloody campaign to establish a separate Islamic state in Nigeria’s northern regions. Will Boko Haram accept an amnesty deal or will Nigeria descend into a religious war?                        
4/19/2013 Nigeria (The African Port) – Nigeria has set up a panel to work out an amnesty for members of the Muslim terrorist group, Boko Haram following threats by Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to target Muslims in a violent campaign.
The move seeks to prevent a looming religious war after MEND released a statement threatening a religious war early this week.
“On behalf of the hapless Christian population in Nigeria, MEND will, from Friday, May 31, 2013, embark on a crusade to save Christianity in Nigeria from annihilation,” the statement released by MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo said.
“The bombing of mosques, hajj camps, Islamic institutions, large congregations in Islamic events and assassination of clerics that propagate doctrines of hate, will form the core mission of this crusade code named Operation Barbarossa.
“MEND’s threats are believed to be a direct response to Boko Haram’s activities.

Alarmed the by the threats, the government set up a 26 member panel to create an amnesty programme for Boko Haram.
“The amnesty is aimed at ending Boko Haram’s bloody campaign, and prevent a full blown war between MEND and Boko Haram.

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The assurance for a cessation of hostilities targeted at Christians in their places of worship, made privately or publicly by the real Boko Haram leadership will make us call off this crusade,” MEND said.
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