The Borno State Government says over 350,000 Boko Haram fighters have exited the bush and surrendered since the introduction of a non-kinetic programme, which includes deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration of former insurgents into society.
- +‘350,000 terrorists surrendered in five years’
The Special Adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum on Security, Brgd Gen Ishaq Abdullahi (retd.), disclosed this on Friday at an event organised to mark the completion of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration process for 720 former insurgents at the Hajj Camp in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum on Security, Brgd Gen Ishaq Abdullahi (retd.), disclosed this on Friday at an event organised to mark the completion of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration process for 720 former insurgents at the Hajj Camp in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The repentant insurgents, who all swore with the Holy Quran, formed part of Batch 9 low-risk and minor clients who are to be reunited with their various communities across the state.
He said the event marked another milestone in the Borno Model non-kinetic approach to the fight against terrorism in the North-East region of the country, particularly in Borno.
Ishaq said, “It has been a success story since July 5, 2021, when the good people of Borno State, under the stewardship of our dynamic leader, Prof Babagana Zulum, agreed to forgive and accept their sons who were willing to lay down their 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 who willingly exited the bush and surrendered to the military.”
Providing the breakdown of the newly reintegrated repentants, he said, “The Borno Model has reintegrated 8,960 persons in Batches 1-8, and with today’s 720 clients (Batch 9), the figure has risen to 9,680 clients.”
He, however, stated that 992 spouses and 2,050 children who surrendered to troops were part of the clients reintegrated alongside the 720 former fighters.
According to him, their journey back from the bush began with calls from their colleagues encouraging them to surrender, embrace peace and reunite with their families.
He added that the clients had earlier exited the bush and reported to the nearest military locations for initial profiling, while those with weapons surrendered them to the troops.
“The camp administrators kept them busy with various programmes geared towards deradicalisation and preparing them for life after the camp,” he added.
Ishaq noted that the state government had provided starter packs for the clients and their spouses to support them in their post-camp lives.
“The clients seated before you were disarmed, demobilised, thoroughly deradicalised and rehabilitated. They are from Bama, Konduga, MMC, Jere, Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza, Damboa, Marte, Monguno, Kukawa, Gubio, Ngala and Kala Balge local government areas.
“Community leaders and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force/Hunters screened them properly before recommending them for reintegration,” Ishaq explained.
