On neglected ‘orphans’ of amnesty
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- Written by Shuaibu Okpanachi
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The Niger Delta militants have never denied their murderous activities and other atrocities such as kidnapping for ransom, oil theft and economic sabotage. In fact, as a result of their patently treasonable activities, Nigeria’s daily oil production has gone down considerably while attacks on gas pipelines and gas stations have continued to adversely affect Nigeria’s electric power generation capacity.
Yet their criminality is being foolishly rewarded with unconditional amnesty with the Nigerian state even ready to pay N60,000 monthly to each criminal that surrenders his arms and embraces peace. Henry Okah, the leader of the notorious kidnapping criminal gang (MEND), has already been set free as a condition to buy peace. Foolishly, his release has exposed the naivety of the whole idea of amnesty. Despite Okah’s release, MEND carried out an attack on the Atlas Cove oil facility in Lagos. But the policy of capitulation by the Nigerian state continues towards the criminal gangs.
If the Yar’adua administration could go this far to achieve peace and national reconciliation through amnesty, one is at a loss why other victims of cruel detention are still in jail. Are the crimes allegedly committed by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the late Gen Abacha’s Chief Security Officer along with other officers more serious than Niger Delta murderous militant activities? Major Al-Mustapha, along with former Zamfara State military administrator, Col. Jibrin Bala Yakubu, former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. James Danbaba and Assistant Superintendent of police (ASP) Rabo Lawal, have been in detention for eleven years without justice over alleged attempted murder.
However, in the curious wisdom of President Yar’adua, these fellow detainees offended Nigeria with a gravity that demands no amnesty because there is no oil from the part of Nigeria they come from! Despite the fact that these fellow northern security officers have been cruelly detained for eleven years, the Yar’adua administration doesn’t feel the need to consider their case even for a passing moment.
The leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokubo was originally detained by the government on charges of treason and murderous criminal activities. But he was eventually released as part of a deal to secure peace in the Niger Delta. Despite his so-called release, kidnappings, economic sabotage and other criminal activities by the militants haven’t stopped. In fact, Alhaji Dokubo openly admitted before the Justice Eso Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Rivers State that his group had murdered 2000 innocent people in cold blood in the course of its insurrection.
How ironic! Those that have openly celebrated their criminality are today being rewarded with a crown in the name of a so-called amnesty in which the militants have outsmarted President Yar’adua by surrendering inferior weapons while keeping back their best arsenal for continued treason against Nigeria. President Yar’adua has been blackmailed into a peace deal that he will ultimately regret.
What is most disturbing, however, is President Yar’adua’s policy of discrimination against Major Al-Mustapha and other murder suspects that have been detained for eleven years, despite the proven nature of the political motives behind their long-running trial and incarceration. Are their alleged offences worse than the atrocities the Niger Delta militants have unleashed on Nigeria so far?
Nobody in government can make any defensible explanation why Major Al-Mustapha, Col. Bala Yakubu, James Danbaba and Rabo Lawal shouldn’t be granted amnesty. Are these fellow Nigerians orphans in the eyes of Yar’adua’s government? The decisive and brutal manner President Yar’adua responded to Boko Haram sect members is a clear evidence that his government is only effective at humiliating fellow northerners in the eyes of the law. Niger Delta militants have killed fourteen soldiers and their bodies can still not be accounted for. Yet they are being granted automatic amnesty and with a promise of N60, 000 monthly allowance to each murderous criminal that disarms and embraces amnesty.
Fair-minded observers are watching in disbelief why Major Al-Mustapha and others should remain incarcerated when Dakubo, Henry Okah, Ganiyu Adams, Fredrick Fasheun and Ralph Uwazuruike have long been set free as part of national reconciliation efforts. Justice is supposed to be blind but the attitude of the Yar’adua administration towards Al-Mustapha and others suggests that justice is one-eyed (cruelly partial)!
The motives that led to the incarceration of Major Al-Mustapha and others by the former Obasanjo administration are so well known to belabor the point about them. What is even more outrageous, however, is the open policy of the Yar’adua administration to treat fellow northerners disproportionately in the dispensation of amnesty. Graver crimes are now being rewarded with money and undeserved freedom while victims of political vendetta like Major Al-Mustapha are left to sharks-infested sea of official discrimination. President Yar’adua will personally bear the responsibility if Al-Mustapha, Col. Bala Yakubu, James Danbaba and Ranbo Lawal die in prison or are unjustly sentenced for an alleged crime for which they have already spent eleven years in excruciating detention. Their case is the biggest albatross on Yar’adua conscience and his ability to resolve their detention will determine whether indeed, he is better at punishing northerners more harshly than other Nigerians who offended the state on graver scale. We are waiting and watching whether Yar’adua will have the courage, broad-mindedness and sense of impartially to accord Al-Mustapha’s case equal priority and urgency.
Shuaibu Okpanachi, Block 28, Luggard Road, Lokoja, Kogi State
Articles
On neglected ‘orphans’ of amnesty
Category: Comments Written by Shuaibu Okpanachi Hits: 701
The Niger Delta militants have never denied their murderous activities and other atrocities such as kidnapping for ransom, oil theft and economic sabotage. In fact, as a result of their patently treasonable activities, Nigeria’s daily oil production has gone down considerably while attacks on gas pipelines and gas stations have continued to adversely affect Nigeria’s electric power generation capacity.
Yet their criminality is being foolishly rewarded with unconditional amnesty with the Nigerian state even ready to pay N60,000 monthly to each criminal that surrenders his arms and embraces peace. Henry Okah, the leader of the notorious kidnapping criminal gang (MEND), has already been set free as a condition to buy peace. Foolishly, his release has exposed the naivety of the whole idea of amnesty. Despite Okah’s release, MEND carried out an attack on the Atlas Cove oil facility in Lagos. But the policy of capitulation by the Nigerian state continues towards the criminal gangs.
If the Yar’adua administration could go this far to achieve peace and national reconciliation through amnesty, one is at a loss why other victims of cruel detention are still in jail. Are the crimes allegedly committed by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the late Gen Abacha’s Chief Security Officer along with other officers more serious than Niger Delta murderous militant activities? Major Al-Mustapha, along with former Zamfara State military administrator, Col. Jibrin Bala Yakubu, former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. James Danbaba and Assistant Superintendent of police (ASP) Rabo Lawal, have been in detention for eleven years without justice over alleged attempted murder.
However, in the curious wisdom of President Yar’adua, these fellow detainees offended Nigeria with a gravity that demands no amnesty because there is no oil from the part of Nigeria they come from! Despite the fact that these fellow northern security officers have been cruelly detained for eleven years, the Yar’adua administration doesn’t feel the need to consider their case even for a passing moment.
The leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokubo was originally detained by the government on charges of treason and murderous criminal activities. But he was eventually released as part of a deal to secure peace in the Niger Delta. Despite his so-called release, kidnappings, economic sabotage and other criminal activities by the militants haven’t stopped. In fact, Alhaji Dokubo openly admitted before the Justice Eso Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Rivers State that his group had murdered 2000 innocent people in cold blood in the course of its insurrection.
How ironic! Those that have openly celebrated their criminality are today being rewarded with a crown in the name of a so-called amnesty in which the militants have outsmarted President Yar’adua by surrendering inferior weapons while keeping back their best arsenal for continued treason against Nigeria. President Yar’adua has been blackmailed into a peace deal that he will ultimately regret.
What is most disturbing, however, is President Yar’adua’s policy of discrimination against Major Al-Mustapha and other murder suspects that have been detained for eleven years, despite the proven nature of the political motives behind their long-running trial and incarceration. Are their alleged offences worse than the atrocities the Niger Delta militants have unleashed on Nigeria so far?
Nobody in government can make any defensible explanation why Major Al-Mustapha, Col. Bala Yakubu, James Danbaba and Rabo Lawal shouldn’t be granted amnesty. Are these fellow Nigerians orphans in the eyes of Yar’adua’s government? The decisive and brutal manner President Yar’adua responded to Boko Haram sect members is a clear evidence that his government is only effective at humiliating fellow northerners in the eyes of the law. Niger Delta militants have killed fourteen soldiers and their bodies can still not be accounted for. Yet they are being granted automatic amnesty and with a promise of N60, 000 monthly allowance to each murderous criminal that disarms and embraces amnesty.
Fair-minded observers are watching in disbelief why Major Al-Mustapha and others should remain incarcerated when Dakubo, Henry Okah, Ganiyu Adams, Fredrick Fasheun and Ralph Uwazuruike have long been set free as part of national reconciliation efforts. Justice is supposed to be blind but the attitude of the Yar’adua administration towards Al-Mustapha and others suggests that justice is one-eyed (cruelly partial)!
The motives that led to the incarceration of Major Al-Mustapha and others by the former Obasanjo administration are so well known to belabor the point about them. What is even more outrageous, however, is the open policy of the Yar’adua administration to treat fellow northerners disproportionately in the dispensation of amnesty. Graver crimes are now being rewarded with money and undeserved freedom while victims of political vendetta like Major Al-Mustapha are left to sharks-infested sea of official discrimination. President Yar’adua will personally bear the responsibility if Al-Mustapha, Col. Bala Yakubu, James Danbaba and Ranbo Lawal die in prison or are unjustly sentenced for an alleged crime for which they have already spent eleven years in excruciating detention. Their case is the biggest albatross on Yar’adua conscience and his ability to resolve their detention will determine whether indeed, he is better at punishing northerners more harshly than other Nigerians who offended the state on graver scale. We are waiting and watching whether Yar’adua will have the courage, broad-mindedness and sense of impartially to accord Al-Mustapha’s case equal priority and urgency.
Shuaibu Okpanachi, Block 28, Luggard Road, Lokoja, Kogi State