Pioneer Grand Khadi of Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdulkadir Orire, has said that granting amnesty to Boko Haram members is at the discretion of government.

He however urged the government to dialogue with the sect if that would bring an end to the wanton killings and destruction of lives and property.

Speaking with our correspondent in Ilorin during the formal closing ceremony of the Ramadan lecture organised by Islamic Missionaries Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Orire noted the enormity of the offence committed by Boko Haram members and demanded that justice be done as prescribed by the law.

The jurist, who was Secretary General of Jama'atul Nasir Islam (JNI) and President General of IMAN, reiterated that the activities of Boko Haram members have no basis whatsoever in Islam.

The ideology, philosophy and the goals of Boko Haram are vague and mysterious, he said. This, the jurist pointed out, underscores the need for dialogue for the government to understand the war.

He said, "As far as we are concerned, Islam has nothing to do with the war being propagated by Boko Haram. Allah says in the Quran that whoever kills a single soul is like killing the whole humanity. So it has nothing to do with Islam. If they know them, the principle of Sharia is that justice should be given. If they dialogue, the condition they dialogued upon should be respected.

If they dialogue and it is recommended that there would be no punishment for them, amnesty would be given; that is for them. But really, they should dialogue with them and ask them what they want? why are they killing people and what do they want to achieve?."