Borno, EU Seek End To Stigmatisation Of Repentant Terrorists
The Kaduna State government yesterday confirmed the killing of 15 residents in separate attacks by bandits in Giwa, Birnin Gwari and Kajuru local government areas of the state.
The commissioner, internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said in a statement that the government was informed by security agencies that bandits attacked Rafin Sarki in Giwa LGA with 11 residents confirmed killed. They were identified as: Abdullahi Musa, Adamu Musa,Aminu Nasiru, Adamu Ibrahim, Yau Usman Ladan, Yunusa Saidu, Salisu Abdulrahman, Fati Usman,Yakubu Ya'u, Marwanu Ibrahim, and one unidentified.
The statement said Cibiya and Karamai communities in Kufana, Kajuru LGA were attacked by bandits and two people were killed. They were identified as Idon Bonos and Aston Namaskar while several persons were injured.
Aruwan further said bandits killed two people in Damari, Birnin Gwari LGA identified as Salisu Mai Tireda and Mohammed Maikaba.
He added that the state government had commiserated with families of the victims.
The Borno State government, European Union and other stakeholders have urged citizens of Borno and the North East in general to avoid stigmatisation of repentant terrorists and their families who surrendered to troops in Borno and environs.
They also appealed to them to forgive and accept the repentant terrorists back into the society for the needed peace to return to the state.
Speaking yesterday at a policy dialogue organised by Peace Ambassadors Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Empowerment (PACHE) in collaboration with the European Union, the British Council and other non-governmental organisations on mechanisms for enhancing community acceptance of Boko Haram returnees, the commissioner for home affairs, information and culture, Babakura Abba Jatau, called for an end to stigma against repentant terrorists which he said was necessary as the reintegration and the resettlement drive of the state government is at an advanced stage.
He said the state was experiencing massive surrender of Boko Haram insurgents, and it is now up to the people to accept them or ask them to go back to the bush and continue to harass them, but noted that people have no any reason not to accept them.
The commissioner said; "Any war that starts with firing a bullet, whether we like or not, must come to an end on the table, we have seen it all over the world and ours cannot be different.
"The challenge is now on the traditional rulers, community and religious leaders as well as the general public to understand the situation we have found ourselves so that we get permanent peace in our country.”
President of Peace Ambassadors, Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Empowerment, Amb. Ahmed Shehu, described stigma and discrimination against repentant terrorists as the biggest barriers to ending insecurity in the region.
The former coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor which has the responsibility of deradicalisation and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members into the society, Maj. Gen Bamidele Shafa (rtd), said the role of society in peace building cannot be undermined, and except the people open their minds and hands to accept them, the needed peace may not be achieved.
He appealed to the people of the North East to have the heart to accept them so that their actions can encourage the remaining members who are still in the bush to surrender.
The Gombe State commissioner for women affairs and social development, Mrs Na'omi Awak, has expressed concern on the rise of anti-feminist movements and attacks on women rights defenders in many countries, including Nigeria.
Speaking yesterday at a press conference as part of activities to commemorate this year's 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, Awak said governments too are not helping matters as they use force against women’s rights protectors, adding that the development discourages activism against preventable gender based violence.
"Anti-feminist movements are on the rise, attacks against women’s rights defenders and activists are up, and the legal status of women’s rights is increasingly imperiled in many countries.
"Regressive new laws are exacerbating impunity for perpetrators of domestic violence, governments are using force against femicide and gender-based violence protestors, and women’s rights organisations are being increasingly marginalized," she said.
According to her, evidence shows that the single most important driver of policy change is a strong and autonomous women’s movement that would make the society understand and acknowledge the fact that feminist mobilisation is aimed at fighting violence and a literal matter of life and death.
"These 16 days, we are encouraging everyone to get involved, from amplifying the voices of survivors and activists to supporting women’s organisations and strengthening feminists.
"To this end, I want to use this opportunity to appreciate and commend Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the Governor of Gombe State, and his amiable wife; Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya, for their doggedness to see that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Child Rights Law were passed in Gombe State.
"This indeed is a great achievement for the state; I want to also commend civil society organisations and the press for pushing for the actualisation of the two laws. We shall continue to push for the implementation," she said.