FG sets up white paper panel on Boko Haram

Scores of suspected members of Boko Haram detaine

The Federal Government yesterday constituted a white paper Committee to review the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Security challenges in the North-East Zone with the Minister of Interior Mr Abba Moro as its Chairman.

The Committee was inaugurated in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

Other members of the Committee are the Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture Alhaji Bukar Tijani , Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Permanent Secretary in the office of the SGF, Representative of the Inspector General of Police, Representative of the National Security Adviser and Representative of the Director-General of the Department of State Services. The Secretary of the Committee would also come from the Office of the SGF.

The terms of reference of the Committee include to study and analyse the findings and recommendations contained in the Report of the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North-East Zone; to produce and submit a draft white paper on the report for the consideration of Government; to bring out a roadmap for peace that is pragmatic, implementable and offers durable solution to the security challenges in the zone.

President Goodluck Jonathan had last month received the report of the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East zone following the upsurge in violent activities of the Boko Haram Islamic Sect in that part of the country.

By OKEY NDIRIBE, Abuja