There is no definite pronouncement by the federal government on what will become of surrendered Boko Haram members, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama has said.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Onyeama made this known on Saturday in Abuja during the 2021 edition of the Society for International Relations Awareness (SIRA) Annual Public Lecture.
Onyeama amidst growing concerns over rumoured plans by the government to reintegrate the surrendered Boko Haram commandants and others to the society.
Many Nigerians have argued the terrorists should face the consequences of their deeds rather than being pardoned or rehabilitated by the government.
But Onyeama said the Federal Government was yet to decide what to do with them.
Addressing the gathering, which includes foreign diplomats, the Minister said: “The mechanisms we are adopting are local and we are looking at experience from other countries in taking a definitive decision on what to do. I guess we would also look at individual cases.
“We can’t just have a blanket decision. There are so many aspects to that but the government is yet to take a definite decision on that. I think very soon, we would have a definite position.”
On the country’s foreign policy, he said it is difficult to say as it varies from one country to another.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari as the arrow head of the country’s engagement, diplomacy has yielded much fruit with the appointment of many Nigerians into global and continental bodies.
TNG reports the 2021 annual public lecture of SIRA has as its theme, “Continuity and Change in Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Under President Muhammadu Buhari”.
The event, supported by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nigeria, was held at the Rotunda Hall, Tafewa Balewa Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Secretariat in Abuja.