Traditional and religious leaders in Borno state have rejected settlement of repentant Boko Haram members in it’s community.
According to them, it will be difficult to reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members into their communities.
The leaders expressed fear over the de-radicalization of repentant members of Boko Haram by the Nigerian Army under its Safe Corridor programme.
Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi who spoke on the decision of his community said the idea is a welcomed one, but that the people will continue to be haunted by the horrors of the 12-year insurgency, especially residents of communities where the repentant insurgents are to be incorporated.
It will be recalled that Senate Chairman on the Army, Ali Ndume, had on Friday complained for the umpteenth time that forgiving the terrorists was inhuman and insensitive of the FG to the psyche of soldiers that were killed or maimed for life, to their families and the communities that were devastated.
“The Safe Corridor programme of the Army led to the de-radicalization of repentant terrorists in Gombe state. But it will be very difficult if not impossible for us to reintegrate the repentant insurgents into our destroyed communities,” the Elkanemi said, adding that Bama township and its college of education were flattened by Boko Haram in September, 2014.
The insurgents were reported to have killed 13 district heads and several ward heads in 16 LGAs in Borno.
“It is easy to forgive for the destruction of many lives and property, but difficult to forget the wanton loss of lives in the various communities of my Chiefdom,” the Shehu of Borno said.
“Many people were killed along with their property for 12 years. And you people and the media expect us to forget and forgive the repentant terrorists?”
On August 12, about 1800 members of Boko Haram reportedly surrendered to troops in Konduga, Gwoza and Bama in Borno.
Those who surrendered will go through the Safe Corridor programme which was launched in 2016 for the de-radicalization, rehabilitation and re-integration (DRR) of ex-insurgents in the country.
Activists have called on the FG to hand over the criminals to face the due process of the law but it is clear that the Buhari government wants the terrorists quickly reintegrated into the communities and system as if nothing happened and shoving aside the collateral damage done by the criminals.
….
