Borno govt reintegrates 8,490 repentant B/Haram members

The Borno State government has disclosed that it has successfully reintegrated 8,490 repentant Boko Haram members through the Borno Model process.

The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, told Daily Trust during an oath-taking event organised for 560 repentant insurgents in Maiduguri Wednesday that they are low risks and minors.

He said they have been cleared by military and others security agencies alongside traditional leaders of their various communities.

He said the programme has been successful and they had conducted surveys which showed that those who were reintegrated into society never violated any rules, neither do they go back to the bushes.

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“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 winning 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,” Prof. Tar said.

Also speaking, the Borno State Special Adviser on Security Affairs, Brig. General Abdullahi Ishaq (rtd), explained that so far, the state government through Borno Model has reintegrated 8,490 low risks and minors into society.

“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.