Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed has explained that the Federal Government will not prosecute repentant terrorists “because there are international conventions” that must be obeyed.
Lai Mohammed, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Washington yesterday, said that calls for the prosecution and killing of the repentant militants rather than granting them amnesty do not align with standard practices around the globe.
“I personally spoke to the military authorities 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,” the minister 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.’’
The minister added that it was unfortunate and inconceivable that some Nigerians would be going about with fake news that the surrendered insurgents would be engaged in the military.
