Borno state government has successfully reintegrated five hundred repentant Boko Haram insurgents that have recently surrendered into the society.
Special Adviser to Borno state Governor on Security Brigedier General Abdullahi Ishaq rtd stated this at a policy dialogue on Reconstruction and Reintegration as a means to Enhancing Sustainable Peace and Security in Maiduguri.
The 2021 Global terrorism Index indicates that Nigeria has moved to sixth position from fourth, that it has occupied since 2017.
This is as a result of the successes recorded in the fight against insurgency by the military and other security agencies.
The coordinated military campaign has also resulted in mass surrender of over thirty five thousand Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa Province ISWAP fighters and their families.
However, the defection of the fighters has generated alot of anxiety from residents as many have expressed doubt about their sincerity.
This informed a policy dialogue organised by Peace Ambassadors for Humanitarian Aid and other stakeholders to discuss better ways of reintegrating the repentant insurgents.
Special Adviser to Borno state Governor on Security Brigedier General Abdullahi Ishaq rtd observed that the hybrid non kinetic approach adopted by the military and the state government informed the recent mass surrender.
He called for the support of all stakeholders to achieve the needed result.
General Ishaq disclosed that three Chibok girls have recently been rescued while many unaccompanied children have been reunited with their parents in the course of the reintegration process.
Coordinator Peace Ambassadors Centre for Humanitarian Aid Ahmed Shehu said the surrender of the repentant insurgents has provided opportunity for people to access their homes and also afford humanitarian actors the opportunity to reach additional vulnerable people in the liberated areas.
“The reason why we are gathered here is to discuss and come up with all inclusive and home grown policy and practice change that will complement and support the efforts of the government and other stakeholders in ensuring effective, efficient and sustainable reconstruction and reintegration in Borno state ” Ambassador Shehu said.
Director Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies University of Maiduguri Dr. Abubakar Monguno in a presentation observed that, there have been significant improvement in the number people who indicated willingness for the repentants to be integrated, and called for a deliberate policy to manage the defectors.
Dauda Iliya