Amnesty For Terrorists... The Nigerian Government's Strategy

We live in a world in which terroristic attacks (both domestic and international) are all too common. The US government has worked relentlessly to pursue individuals that choose to commit these horrific acts. These individuals are held accountable to the highest extent of the law. The US government unremittingly pursues Justice for these acts.

 

 

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols are responsible for the Oklahoma City bombings that occurred on April 19, 1995. These bombings claimed 68 lives, including 19 children under the age of 6 and injured more than 680 people. Nichols is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. McVeigh was executed in June of 2011.

On December 25, 2009 Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate plastic explosives on a Northwest Airlines flight. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the attempted murder of 289 people.

James Eagan Holmes is currently awaiting sentencing for his actions. On July 20, 2012 Holmes killed 12 and injured 58 in a shooting spear inside an Aurora, CO theater.

The above examples are simply a sampling of the approach the government takes to pursuing justice against those that commit these horrible acts of terrorism. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government does not embody the same pursuit of justice. It sickens me to know that the Nigerian government brokers deals with Boko Haram terrorists ( Ref. link: Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan Names Boko Haram Amnesty Committee Members http://t.co/RlXD8pXir5  ). The deals that they broker are not plea bargains, they are in fact offers of amnesty. This is absurd and frankly inexcusable. The Nigeria government of President Goodluck Jonathan takes the stance that in order to stop the Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb affiliates in Northern Nigeria and other terrorism from occurring, they need to offer the terrorists amnesty. To me this action, not only promotes new and current terroristic individuals and groups to continue with these violent actions, it also sends a message to the families of victims that they don’t matter…that the government doesn’t care about the lives lost.

The Nigerian government needs to significantly change their practice. They must fully pursue terrorist activities. They must hold those responsible accountable and punish them to the fullest extent of the law.