The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has firmly dismissed social media claims suggesting it endorsed amnesty or financial incentives for terrorists and bandits, describing the circulating narrative as a deliberate distortion.
The clarification was issued in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, who said the misleading reports arose from a “truncated and mischievously abstracted” video clip extracted from a recent television interview granted by Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, the Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees.
He explained that the viral clip was “taken out of context… to reach some predetermined conclusion(s), especially as being publicised by some clandestine and shadowy individuals or group(s).”
According to him, Dalhatu’s remarks in the interview were largely personal views that were misinterpreted to suggest the forum supported a Niger Delta–style amnesty programme for armed groups.
“First, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu spoke mostly in his personal capacity, only sporadically alluding to official perspectives,” the statement said.
Muhammad-Baba clarified that, in the full interview, Dalhatu had “assertively and emphatically condemned the spate of terrorist activities in Nigeria” and called for “the total annihilation of the terrorists and bandits… within the shortest period possible.”
He added that Dalhatu’s reference to the Niger Delta amnesty merely highlighted that governments may sometimes combine kinetic and non-kinetic approaches when tackling insecurity, not that the same template should be adopted.
“He did not categorically propose the unadulterated application of the same pathway,” the ACF stressed, adding that Dalhatu only acknowledged that individuals were entitled to their opinions about possible solutions.
Muhammad-Baba further noted that Dalhatu made no ethnic or religious references when discussing terrorists or bandits, describing contrary claims as the “vile reactions of some mischievous, clandestine and shadowy group(s).”
He said the ACF considered it important to publicly clarify its stance because of “the gravity of the allegation.”
“ACF hereby makes it categorically and unambiguously clear that at no time has the organisation called for any amnesty in favour of any terrorists or bandits,” the statement added.
Reaffirming its long-standing position, the forum restated its commitment to supporting national efforts against insecurity.
“As always, ACF pledges full and unalloyed support to the Government and the security agencies in their various endeavours to stamp out the scourge of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria,” it said.
