Some residents in Borno state are
kicking against the reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members into the
communities.
The military had in 2016 launched
Operation Safe Corridor, an initiative for the deradicalisation and
rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram members.
The aim of the operation, the
military had also said, is to reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members into society.
In July, 602 ex-Boko Haram
members were said to have completed a de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and
reintegration (DRR) programme.
But residents who spoke said the idea would be a difficult one to accept.
“From day one, Maiduguri people
have never liked the idea of reintegrating the terrorists back to the
community,” one of the residents said.
“The reason is simple. It means
they are likely to come in contact with people who slaughtered members of their
family and friends in their presence and they are expected not to think about
it?
“They are expected to agree for
these people to be with them in society? How do you expect us to live with the
killers of our parents? Those who attacked us and burnt down our houses?”
Shettima Mustapha, another
resident who took to Facebook, said one of the ex-Boko Haram members was
brought into a community where one of the recently killed humanitarian workers
came from.
Five humanitarian workers
abducted in Borno state were recently executed by the suspected insurgents.
“Today, we woke up to the news
that one notorious Boko Haram member,
popularly known as Mallam Yawu, came back to Shehuri South community.
Reportedly, he came back with some papers believed to be government clearance
papers, possibly, from those responsible for reintegration of repentant Boko
Haram members,” Mustapha wrote.
“The reaction of the people of that community
was as expected — a total rejection and condemnation of the authorities who
released him back to the community.
“From what we are learning, he is
either taken away by security operatives or CJTF, perhaps, looking at the pulse
of the general public about his sudden reappearance.
“And don’t forget, only
yesterday, a video of the gruesome murder of the humanitarian aid workers was
released by the BHT. One of those killed, Abdurahman Bulama, was from the same
Shehuri South community where this terrorist is being planned to be
reintegrated. The same sad story is true of almost every community in Borno
State.”
Usman Alibe, another resident,
also narrated how a similar scenario played out in his area in Bama some months
back “when a female member of the dreaded group returned home with a full
security backing”.
According to him, the insistence
of the government on this matter “will not augur well for our fragile peace in
the towns and city centre”.
“It is fine if the authorities
are so magnanimous to forgive their heinous crime and it is also fine for the
victims who they wreak a monumental havoc to not forgive them. Therefore, the
government should integrate them into government houses and the villa but not
our society,” he said.
TheCable gathered that residents
have not been properly briefed and advised on how to accept the reintegration
of the repentant insurgents.
“It should be a two-way thing;
while these people are being deradicalised, what is being done to the members
of the societies who have been the victims? As you are working on the
terrorists, you also work on those affected,” Jack Vince, a journalist resident
in Maiduguri, told TheCable.
He added that going forward, a
bigger problem might be brewing if the people are not properly sensitised on
the matter.
In February, some soldiers at the war front expressed disappointment over the
release of repentant Boko Haram suspects.
Meanwhile, Sagir Musa, army
spokesperson, is yet to respond to a message seeking reaction over the
development.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com