Doubts trail ‘surrender’ of Boko Haram members

probably because of divergent interests as a result of the recent killing of Shekau.

“It is clear that the Nigerian military has resolved to intensify both its kinetic and non-kinetic approach towards the ongoing fight against insurgency. But the military shouldn’t be in rush to return the so-called repentant Boko Haram to their communities because it would be very difficult for the communities to accept them back.

“It is normal for one side to give up in a prolonged conflict of this nature but the acceptance of Boko Haram fighters back has to be done with caution.

“There should be proper profiling to ascertain those that were forcefully taken just like the Chibok girls and those who voluntarily join to fight,” he said.

Traditional rulers key to resolving issues

A Professor of Political Science at the University of Maiduguri, Umara Ibrahim Gudumbali has called for the inclusion of traditional rulers, community stakeholders and the military in the process of deradicalisation and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members.

“When you are talking about deradicalisation, it is a process of psychological altering, the belief systems of people who have derailed from the normal belief of society.

“So, when you want to counter their belief systems, there is information, which the state should know, what we are saying, those who surrendered or were taken to camps for deradicalisation where are they from? Which wards or villages? Did the government allow the community leaders to ascertain the genuineness of these being Boko Haram combatants or innocent people? This information is not available for people to scrutinise.

“For the past few weeks, we have not recorded any attacks, now the government is recording huge surrender by insurgents, the people didn’t protest because we have had solace in the last two months. It is difficult because people have witnessed the beheading of their fathers, children and loved ones, many have been abducted against their will, some people are missing and some on daily basis could not overcome the trauma because of their loved ones.

“It is important to allow the traditional institutions to access those surrendered insurgents. There are many people among the surrendered insurgent such as abductees, local villagers forcefully taken into the group and real ones with guns.

“So, in transitional justice, it is important to take cognisance of the role which all of them have played so that whatever community decided or suggested should be the framework. But those who willfully take up arms to destroy, maimed people with blood in their hands for the sake of peace should not be allowed to move freely.

“This is because another generation will come and say even those people who perpetrated these acts of violence nothing happen to them, at the end they were pardoned and therefore if we do it, we will also be pardoned and it will set a bad precedent for our peaceful co-existence,” Professor Gudumbali said.

Daily Trust recalled that Governor Babagana Zulum at the weekend said that the surrendering of over 1,000 Boko Haram terrorists had left Borno State and its people with two extremely difficult security dimensions.

According to him, the current security situation, if not collectively handled by stakeholders, could lead to a civil rebellion. He raised the fears while addressing military officers and community leaders at Bama and Gwoza.

When contacted yesterday to shade more light on what the governor said, his spokesman, Isa Gusau said, “It is not that the governor is apprehensive about the repentant and returning Boko Haram insurgents, rather, he is being careful, analytical and sensitive.

“You may have read what the governor said two days ago in Gwoza and Bama, he said the situation was about two extremes; on one hand, the governor recognises the fact that surrendering of the insurgents is one of the opportunities or best signs Nigeria has witnessed in recent times, which gives an indication or path to ending Boko Haram insurgency.

“The military has always had the Operation Safe Corridor, which was approved by the president. It is a kind of tool for psychological warfare and it is an important element in war. The whole idea is to reduce the ranks of Boko Haram and when Shekau died, an opportunity came.

“The governor also said that there is a risk of the lots of the members joining ISWAP, so he is looking at it from both sides. There is a huge advantage and a potential to end Boko Haram.

“There is also the concern on what is the implication of them coming, what about people whose families were killed and communities destroyed? The governor believes that the option for all critical stakeholders, including victims of the insurgents is to come together for the pros and cons to be looked at, together with the military and the federal government. This to adopt a workable framework; I do not want to pre-empt what will be adopted, but you know the whole issue is a project of the federal government and not the Borno State Government,” he said.

Repentant Boko Haram fighters must face trial ACF

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Tuesday advised the federal government to prosecute Boko Haram members who have repented or surrendered.

In a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna by the National Chairman of the forum, Audu Ogbeh, ACF recalled that the insurgents were one-time bomb makers, commanders, arsonists, rapists and children snatchers.

According to him, “Do we have any reason to cheer up and believe that the war is over, asking if saying ‘I am sorry is enough to bring relief to thousands of Nigerians or even those killed?

“What of all the men and women in uniform murdered by them? Who can count the thousands of widows and orphans they have created?” he asked.

Military dismisses report

According to General Sawyer, “We are here now as a result of the tactics that were being utilised to address the current issues we are facing. The Boko Haram fighters are not surrendering in droves.

“What are we supposed to do as a press, we should be singing a narrative to encourage them to come out so that all this nonsense will go off.

“You see, when they were coming out, for the first time, they were coming out with arms. They were coming out with both heavy and small arms, submitting to the security forces.

“At least, about three Chibok girls have shown up now. Were those Chibok girls just married to anyhow people? Were they not married to their commanders? And they are coming out now.

“Are we supposed to be asking questions to doubt the sincerity of purpose? I can see that some people are even saying they would not accept them back, okay, if you don’t accept them back, what do you want us to do with them?

“Must we always strive on negative news to sell our papers? No! Positive news with good headlines can be sold. Let us not start asking questions that are not there. These people are handing over their weapons, coming out, you will see them in droves.

“There is no truth in what they are saying because these people are handing over their weapons. If you’re talking of ISWAP, no ISWAP has handed over, no ISWAP has surrendered,” he said.