By John Akevi<\/p>\n
According to Wikipedia, amnesty is a pardon granted by the government to
\na group or class of persons officially forgiving them of their acts of
\ncrime.
\nSection 14, Subsection 1(b)) Chapter 11 of the 1999 Constitution of the
\nFederal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) under the Fundamental
\nObjectives and Directive Principles of State Policy provides that; ” the
\nsecurity and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of
\nGovernment ” . Every person has a right to life and shall not be
\ndeprived of it intentionally, except in execution of the sentence of a
\ncourt in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty
\nin Nigeria.<\/p>\n
This weighty provision of the law has placed a huge demand on government
\nat the Federal, State
\nand Local tiers to prioritise the security of lives and property of her
\ncitizenry.<\/p>\n
In the North Eastern state of Bauchi, the administration of His
\nExcellency, Sen. Bala Mohammed debuted the scene of governance with a
\nloud drive for comprehensive industrialization of Bauchi, drifting
\nattention from the oil- targeted monoculture economy. Knowing
\nwell the dangers of poor security as touching industrial activities, the
\ngovernor immediately took steps that would guarantee foreign investors’
\nconfidence and encourage local investments.<\/p>\n
Bauchi state has over the years been faced with a dearth of small and
\nmedium scale industries, making the Pearl of Tourism state entirely
\nsalary-
\nreliant, with an alarming poverty rate.<\/p>\n
Towards winning the confidence of would-be investors, His Excellency,
\nSen. Bala Mohammed initiated an amnesty programme for ‘YAN-SARASUKA”
\nthugs that have been perpetrating evil and terrorising residence in the
\nstate since 2007 to date. This was done with leniency, a way of
\nreintegrating the lost sheep in the Bauchi community through a peaceful
\nand harmless “carrot approach”.<\/p>\n
Three states in the North East region where thuggery was elevated, as
\nsome would say, to become almost like an institutional apparatus of
\nstate as they assumed and exhibited powers
\nthat were hitherto only associated with security outfits, were Bauchi,
\nGombe and Borono States. While \u2018YAN SARA-SUKA’ ran Bauchi state
\nberserk with the support and encouragement of the then governors, in
\nGombe State, the ‘YANKALARI’ group, made sure that their fear was the
\nbeginning of wisdom as they became law onto themselves. Likewise in
\nBorono state ‘ECOMOG’ have in the past wrecked havoc on the residence of
\nthe state.<\/p>\n
Needless to say that the havoc that has been wrecked into the system has
\ntoday led to the tense security situation in the North Eastern part of
\nthe country in particular and the nation at large.
\nToday, Boko Haram insurgence, kidnapping, armed robbery and banditry,
\nbroad daylight cult killings involving youths are steadily enveloping
\nus.<\/p>\n
The decision of the state government to grant amnesty\u00a0 to the ‘YAN
\nSARA-SUKA’ thugs\u00a0 in the state was received with unimaginable responses
\nas over 500 members of the evil gang across the state surrendered large
\nnumber of arms and ammunition and other dangerous weapons to the
\ngovernment and denounced the act of criminality.<\/p>\n
While addressing the ‘YAN SARA-SUKA’ thugs,
\nGovernor Bala Mohammed, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr.
\nAbubakar Kari, said “the government will use the information provided by
\nthe police in integrating them to the society”.
\nThe Governor further started\u00a0 that “the state will come up with
\nempowerment programmes aimed at assisting them in capacity building to
\nbetter their lives”.
\nHe stressed the need for job creation as a fundamental tool to reduce
\nunemployment which made youths to take to criminality. He said the State
\nGovernment has promised to rehabilitate the
\nrepentant YAN SARA-SUKA thugs.<\/p>\n