Borno reintegrates repentant B/Haram members

The Borno State Government has reintegrated 720 repentant Boko Haram members, alongside 992 women and 2,050 children, into their communities after completing a rehabilitation and deradicalisation programme.

Recall that the repentant members, who surrendered to the troops at various times, had been disarmed and rehabilitated at the Hajj Camp in Maiduguri.

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum on Security, Brigadier General Abdullahi Ishaq (Rtd), said the graduates had willingly surrendered to the military.

The repentant insurgents were made to swear with the Holy Quran never to return to their old ways before they were given a second chance into their communities.

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“Today Borno Model is adjudged to be one of the most effective non-kinetic programme in the history of mankind with over 350,000 persons that willingly exited the bush and surrendered to the military.

“A total of 720 men, 992 spouses, and 2,050 children who had repented and surrendered to troops are to be reintegrated after many of them were deradicalised, disarmed, rehabilitated at the Hajj Camp in Maiduguri and acquired various skills acquisition programmes.

“Their way back from the bush began with a call from their colleagues encouraging them to surrender, embrace peace and re-unite with their parents,” he said.

Ishaq said they had hitherto exited from the bush and reported to the nearest military location for initial profiling, and those with weapons surrendered to the troops.

“Unfortunately, some left their camps but could not make it to any military location before they were arrested and killed,” he said.

Ishaq said that the lucky ones that made it to the military location were later moved to Hajj Camp for proper documentation, profiling and deradicalisation.

He, however, noted that the State Government has provided starter packs for the clients and their spouses to support them in their post camp life.

“The Borno Model has reintegrated 8960 in Batches 1-8 and with today’s 720 clients (Batch 9), it would be 9,680 clients.

“The clients seated in front of you were disarmed, demobilised, thoroughly deradicalised and rehabilitated. They are from Bama LGA, Kondugua LGA, MMC, Jere, Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza, Damboa, Marte, Mongunu, Kukawa, Gbambolu Ngala, Kalabarge and Gubio.

“Community leaders, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)/Hunters screened them properly before recommending them for reintegration,” he added.

He praised them for cooperation during the deradicalisation process, saying they should be law abiding and participate actively and positively in community services as they are reintegrated back.