Making Impossible Possible-Advocacy for Amnesty to Muslim Terrorists-Learning from Nigeria’s Niger Delta Crisis
ABSTRACT
There can be no end in finding solution to problems and crisis until the result is achieved. This paper wants to proffer a solution to end or bring to minimal terrorism. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York City and the Pentagon has made the world more unsecure. The widely condemned attack was also taken as militant and angry response to US military and foreign policy interference and exploitation of many countries in the Muslim world which has the feelings of dispossession, discontent and resentment. The US effort in rising to the challenge to wipe out terrorism in all its ramifications can not be overemphasised especially its war against Al Qaeda and other organisations like it of which the peak effort led to the killing/murder of Osama bin Laden.
The America spearheaded war on terror has great positive and negative impact on the Muslim world. For how long would manhunt for the so called terrorists lasts? .With sophisticated state of the art technology, the deployment of drones to kill the terrorists have also killed more innocent citizens especially the women and the children more than the targeted. No doubt terrorists are recruiting more than they were killed while those who lost their innocent ones in the war are looking for opportunity to revenge.
This paper considers the huge resources-human, financial and time spent to prosecute the war, the collateral damages that enflame future anger and the need for world peace. As a solution to end terrorism, the paper advocates the possibility of offering amnesty to the terrorists while they in turn surrender their arms and denounce terrorism. The idea is bored from the experience of Nigeria’s government to bring an end to militancy in Niger Delta region. For its effectiveness, the paper suggests collaboration with distinguished Muslim Leaders, the UN, the Vatican and the World Muslim League to bring to round table for the terrorists need a second chance. Amnesty is not an end in itself but the goal is to develop the world which will bring peace and stability.
Engr. Bashir Lawal
Member -Muslim Consultative Forum and the Executive Director Public Affairs And Democracy Initiative, National Mosque Complex, (P.O. Box 9326 Garki ) Abuja, Nigeria.
+234 818 498 1163
