The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security in Borno State, Prof. Usman Tar, told Daily Trust during an oath-taking ceremony in Maiduguri on Wednesday for the 560 ‘repentant’ Boko Haram fighters that they are considered low risks.
The Borno State government says it has successfully reintegrated 8,490 ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members back to the society through the Borno Model process.
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security in Borno State, Prof. Usman Tar, told Daily Trust during an oath-taking ceremony in Maiduguri on Wednesday for the 560 ‘repentant’ Boko Haram fighters that they are considered low risks.
Prof. Tar revealed that a total of 8,490 individuals, including this group of 560, have been reintegrated into their communities after undergoing thorough clearance by military and security agencies, as well as traditional leaders from their respective communities.
The reintegration program has yielded remarkable success, with surveys indicating that none of the individuals reintegrated into society have violated any laws or returned to their former lives in the bush, marking a significant turnaround in their lives.
“For the past three years, we established Borno Model for mass return of insurgents and those who were trapped in the line of violence. Today we are weaning out additional 560 returnees who are low risks and minors. They have been trained on phone repairs, mechanics, carpentry and all sorts of trades.
“This platform has been very successful, so people should not be worried because of few challenges. Office of the National Security Adviser has shown confidence in this process (Borno Model), and we are working with other state governments who are exploring ways and means of adopting our Borno Model,” Tar said.
Borno State's Special Adviser on Security Affairs, Brigadier General Abdullahi Ishaq (retired), announced that the state government has successfully reintegrated 8,490 low-risk individuals and minors into society through the Borno Model, a rehabilitation program aimed at reformed insurgents.
“As I speak today, we have so far reintegrated a total of 8,490 low risks and minors. In the past we resettled 7,930 and now 560 people, many of them 10 years when insurgents invaded their villages and were forcefully taken away.
“There are almajirai, farmers, fishermen, and others who were forced against their will to join Boko Haram sect; so, these are low risks and minors. The community leaders came here to screen and request that we should release them to the community.
“Many of them are from Konduga, Dikwa, Ngala, Marte, Kukawa, Mobbar, Bama, Gwoza, and other LGAs.
“After this training, they will also receive starter packs at the end of the programme, before being returned to their communities that had screened them for the training,” he added.