Repentant Boko Haram Members Engage in Sanitary Activities

Osaretin Balogban

In Maiduguri, some Repentant Boko Haram members on Saturday volunteered to perform sanitary activities as they prepare themselves for reintegration.

The Centre for Democracy Development (CDD) with the aid of the Borno State Government organised the exercise.

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Prof. Mala Mustafa who is a Senior Research Fellow with the CDD said; “The rationale behind this exercise is for CDD to support the Borno State government as part of preparatory work for the reintegration of the ex-combatants.”

“We felt it’s imperative to change the narrative, particularly the negative perception about them among community members.”

“We want to rebuild the relationship and trust between those that surrendered and community members.”

He further added that around 400 repentant Boko Haram members were mobilized for the exercise with 50 of them already participating in the activities on Saturday and had started their sanitation in the Maiduguri Hajj Camp which houses over 12,000 insurgents with their families.

Mustafa said the exercise will gradually extend to some communities in Maiduguri, he also notes that the ex-combatants have been given basic training and knowledge on civic education.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum on Security, Gen, Abdullahi Ishaq praised the efforts of the CDD in supporting the reintegration process of the insurgents, saying that the initiative has led to peace in affected areas of Borno.

“CDD provided the equipment for this exercise and has been providing us with technical advice as good partners,”

“Today, Maiduguri is more peaceful than Abuja. We want to continue to call on communities to support this sulhu (peace) process by accepting them,” Ishaq said.

Source: The Nation

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