The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged the Federal government to prosecute Boko Haram members who have repented or surrendered.
The Forum further argued that if the terrorist would be set free, the government should as well release all suspects being held in custody for any form of crime.
The National Chairman of ACF, Chief Audu Ogbeh, recalled that the insurgents were one-time bomb makers, commanders, arsonists, rapists and children snatchers.
He said: “We are currently witnessing large scale surrender of large numbers of Boko Haram insurgents, among whom are bomb makers, commanders, arsonists, rapists, and child snatchers. Do we have good reason to cheer and hope for an end to this decade-old insanity?
“Is ‘I am sorry’ enough to bring relief to Nigerians and the thousands of dead and maimed? What of those victims bombed in the churches, mosques, schools, and markets?
“What of all the men and women in uniform murdered by them? Who can count the thousands of widows and orphans they have created? And what is the difference between them and the Ighoho’s or ESN of Nigeria? None.
“So what do we do with them? Should we just embrace them and trust them wholesale? Are their moves infor med by altruistic repentance? We seriously doubt it.
“We join the Governor of Borno, the Shehu of Borno, Senator Ndume and millions of Nigerians in pondering over this development and our simple advice is: Bring them to trial, or free all others presently in custody anywhere, while we Nigerians plead guilty of naivety and gullibility in the extreme, punishable by more insurrection and anarchy,” ACF stated.