Outrage trails reintegration of 720 ‘repentant insurgents’ in Borno

…as gunmen abduct 2 in fresh Kwara attack

 

BY TOSIN ADAMS

News of the reintegration of 720 persons declared as de-radicalised former insurgents did not go down well with many Nigerians, who went online to voice their disdain on the state policy of rehabilitating insurgents under any guise. For many, who followed the conversation threads on most social media platforms, the act, smacks of pampering killers and enemies of Nigeria, whose activities have grown more ferocious in spite of the rehabilitations.

 

Many questioned the rationale behind keeping Mazi Nnamdi Kanu behind bars, while rehabilitating and reabsorbing terrorists into the society, despite accounts of the so-called repentant insurgents being implicated in some security breached that have been noticed lately in the country, including sharing intelligence with terrorists.

 

The Daily Monitor on Saturday notes that the Borno government on Friday reintegrated at least 3,740 repentant members of Boko Haram into society as part of the state’s reintegration model policy.

 

Brig.-Geng. Abdullahi Ishaq(rt.)d, the Special Adviser to Gov. Babagana Zulum on security, made this known at the reintegration ceremony in Maiduguri.

 

Those reintegrated included 720 men, 992 spouses, and 2,050 children who had repented and surrendered to troops, after being deradicalised, disarmed, rehabilitated and trained in various skills acquisition at the Hajj Camp in Maiduguri.

 

Ishaq, however, described the event as marking another milestone in the Borno Model Non-Kinetic approach to the fight against terrorism in the North-east region and Borno in particular.

 

“It has been a success story since 5th July 2021 when the good people of Borno State under the stewardship of our dynamic leader Prof Babagana Umara Zulum agreed to forgive and accept their sons who are willing to drop arms and embrace peace.

 

“Today, the Borno Model is adjudged to be one of the most effective non-kinetic programmes 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, and 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 added

 

Ishaq stated that the clients have hitherto exited from the bush and reported to the nearest military location for initial profiling, and those with weapons surrendered to the troops.

 

According to him, some of them left their camps but could not make it to any military location before they were arrested and killed, adding that the lucky ones who made it to the military location were later moved to Hajj Camp for proper documentation, profiling and deradicalisation.

 

“The camps’ administrators kept them busy with various programmes geared

 

towards deradicalisation and preparing them for life after camp.

 

“Tuesdays and Thursdays were for Islamic programmes, lectures on hygiene, drug abuse and other fields during Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays were for skill acquisition programmes such as metal works, carpentry, tailoring, pot making, brick

 

laying, barbing, cap making, repair of phones, solar installation, vulcanising, and repairs of motorcycles”. Ishaq said.

 

He said that their women were not left out in skill acquisition as they were trained in cattery services, knitting, cap marking, tailoring, soap making to mention a few.

 

Ishaq said that the state government had 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), there would be 9,680 clients.

 

“The clients seated in front of you were disarmed, demobilised, thoroughly deradicalised and rehabilitated.

 

“They are from Bama, Kondugua, MMC, Jere, Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza, Damboa, Marte, Mongunu, Kukawa, Gbambolu Ngala, Kalabarge and Gubio Local Government Areas.

 

 

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

 

Ishaq, however, urged them to go back to their various communities and be law-abiding, participate actively and positively in community work and development programmes.

 

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Babagana Kadai,ssaid the day was not merely a ceremony but a celebration of hope, resilience, reconciliation, and the commitment of the Borno government to restoring peace and rebuilding lives affected by years of insurgency.

 

“I would like to express our deepest appreciation to His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Executive Governor of Borno State, whose visionary leadership, compassion, and dedication to peacebuilding have continued to attract national and international recognition.

 

“Under Zulum’s leadership, thousands of families displaced by conflict have been resettled, communities have been rebuilt, schools and healthcare facilities have been restored, and opportunities have been created for vulnerable populations to regain their dignity and livelihoods.

 

“This programme is another testament to his administration’s commitment to fostering peace, unity, and social cohesion in Borno State,” Gambo said.

 

Meanwhile, gunmen suspected to be bandits on Thursday night attacked Gaa-Alla and Gaa-Oke Abba communities in Isin Local Government Area, as well as Famole Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting residents.

 

It was gathered that the attacks were carried out simultaneously in a coordinated operation at about 10:00 p.m.

 

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said two people were abducted in Gaa-Alla Community.

 

“I can only confirm that in Gaa-Alla Community, two people were abducted and that the police, in conjunction with the military and forest guards, are on the trail of the assailants,” he said.

 

Sources in the affected communities, however, claimed that the suspected terrorists kidnapped scores of residents and killed one person during a gun battle in Famole Community