Borno state government has expressed commitment to collaborate with the Federal government to ensure smooth repatriation of its indigenes who are currently taking refuge in neighbouring countries.
Governor Babagana Zulum made the commitment during the inauguration of a twenty-six member Committee on repatriation of Borno indigenes in Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republics and Management of Repentant Boko Haram insurgents at the Government House Maiduguri.
In the last one year, Borno state has witnessed mass surrender of insurgents and their families due to the ongoing military operations in the strongholds of Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa Province ISWAP.
About sixty thousand insurgents have so far surrendered to authorities and are currently undergoing rehabilitation and deradicalization process in three holding facilities in Maiduguri.
Already, the Federal government has set up a committee under the leadership of the Vice President to ensure seamless repatriation and management of the defectors.
Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum said the mass defection by the insurgents is an indication that the military is winning the war against insurgence, hence the formation of the Committee to repatriate Nigerian refugees in the neighbouring countries.
According to him, the mandates of the Committee include repatriation of displaced persons due to activities of insurgency to the state, ensure proper rehabilitation and reintegration of the defectors and proffer any other solution that will ensure success of the Committee.
“Issue of repatriation and management of insurgents if properly handled, I strongly believed that we shall witness additional mass surrender of members of the sect willing to lay down their arms, denounce their membership and embrace peace which is the primary aim of the government ” Zulum said.
Governor Zulum said the state government has secured a grant of fifteen million euros from the Government of Germany which is being handled by the United Nations Development Programme UNDP for the management of the defectors, urging the Committee to source for additional funding to achieve its mandate.
He explained that additional camps will be established to accommodate the large number of defectors as the three holding facilities have been overstretched.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Kaka Shehu Lawan assured that the Committee will interface with that of the federal government to achieve its mandate.
Similarly, Governor Babagana Zulum has also inaugurated the Committee for the resettlement of Mairari and Gudumbali communities of Guzamala local government.
The Governor who said Gudumbali is the only local government headquarters in the state without civil population, announced that the President has approved the reconstrution and resettlement of IDPs back to the area.
Cov/Dauda Iliya
