The Northern Christian Elders’ forum has joined groups opposed to the granting of amnesty to Boko Haram.

Speaking in Abuja at the annual national conference of the forum, the Chairman of the forum, Matthew Owojaiye said, if the federal government must grant amnesty to members of the sect, such gesture must be extended to all persons awaiting trial and those who have been convicted for various offences.

The call is coming shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan approved the constitution of a Presidential Committee to “constructively engage key members of Boko Haram and define a comprehensive and workable framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the country.”

The forum also called for the establishment of a Northern Minorities Commission with a minister in charge saying the establishment of the commission will ameliorate the marginalization and under-development of the region.

At a previous meeting, the group had questioned the rationale behind plans by the Federal Government to grant amnesty to Boko Haram members, describing the move as “hypocritical and unpatriotic”.

They had accused northern elites of intimidating President Jonathan to grant the sect amnesty.