PRESIDENT JONATHAN ARRIVES BORNU AND YOBE STATE

President Jonathan arrives Maiduguri International airport

President Jonathan in Yobe state's capital, Damaturu

 

 

President Goodluck Jonathan today began a two-day tour of restive states of Borno and Yobe states.
The president arrived in Maiduguri on a presidential jet met briefly with the governor of Borno and then flew on a helicopter to Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.

The two northern Nigerian states have been under sustained attacks from Islamist militants, Boko Haram, a group that has vowed to force the Nigerian government to adopt Islamic law.

President Goodluck Jonathan says contrary to the call by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar III, his administration would not grant members of the Islamist  militant group, Boko Haram amnesty. Jonathan who spoke at a town hall meeting held in Damaturu as part of activities earmarked for his state visit to Yobe State said members of the sect could not be granted amnesty for now because they remained faceless and have refused to communicate with the government.

The Sultan of Sokoto had asked President Goodluck Jonathan to grant members of the  Islamist  militant group, Boko Haram ,  “total amnesty” for the sake of  peace in the country. Abubakar, who by his position as Sultan,  is the spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims, argued that a presidential amnesty to even one member of the sect, could make  others to lay  down their arms for peace to reign in the nation.

President Jonathan is expected to leave Yobe later tonight for Maiduguri where he is expected to continue the presidential tour tomorrow.Masquerade234 gathered that the inspector general of Police Mohammed Abubakar led a 3000 officers to ensure adequate security.