The recent graduation of about 600 repentant Boko Haram terrorists and their planned reintegration into society by the Federal Government has again triggered the debate on the appropriateness or otherwise of that move by the government. In this piece , TUNDE AJAJA examines the implications of this for the Nigerian state


The warm reception the Nigerian government accorded repentant Boko Haram terrorists , who have over the years killed thousands of Nigerians, wreaked havoc on the Nigerian state and fought brazenly to shred the sovereignty of this country, is once again a matter of serious concern to many Nigerians.

This , perhaps , is one issue that won ’ t go away quickly , especially as their co- fighters are still in the North- East, especially Borno State, killing unarmed civilians and Nigerian soldiers alike in droves.

The carnage caused by this dreaded group is, to say the least , terrifying , a situation pushing many Nigerians , including security experts to ask questions about the controversial move by the government .

“It (the rehabilitation and planned reintegration ) is a mistake and a very unfortunate circumstance because reality is being stood on its head , ” said Ona Ekhomu , a seasoned security expert and analyst . “ The perpetrators are getting a soft landing; they are living on government largesse , all in some unproven claims that they have been deradicalised, which we know is not true.

“ When somebody commits murder, you keep them in jail for life or you even hang them , yet these people who are beheading others, bombing people and killing thousands are being given a soft landing. Part of the problem we have is that we don’ t have our priorities right . ”

Ekhomu , who is the chairman of Trans - World Security Systems Ltd . , added , “ I totally oppose it and think it ’ s very inhuman of whoever the policymaker is that came up with the idea that they should be rehabilitating those fighters . ”

The terrorists , who on their part have shown no mercy on the Nigerian state and its citizens, have not only kidnapped and violated many , including young schoolgirls – turning them to sex slaves and suicide bombers – they have murdered many , beheaded some , executed some openly , burnt some to ashes and turned many children to orphans , wives to widows and men to widowers .

The victims of their virulent attacks have fled for cover in different parts of the country , many are constrained to live a day at a time in the camps for internally displaced persons while some do not even know if their loved ones are still alive or are merely missing owing to the attacks.

For example , on March 23 , 2020 , the insurgents , some of whom are now being welcomed back into the society they have desecrated , laid an ambush for some Nigerian soldiers and killed about 70 of them in one fell swoop . This is in addition to overrunning military bases and killing troops in several other attacks.

Of the torrent of attacks, the most recent was the attack on the convoy of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and the multiple bombings that killed six persons and left about 27 persons injured few days ago . Since the insurgency started in 2009 , about 100 , 000 Nigerians are said to have been killed – the number is still rising – while about 2 . 3 million persons have been displaced .

Meanwhile , with all these , many people have expressed worry that the government is carrying on with the said rehabilitation of the ex -terrorists , in an operation tagged ‘ Operation Safe Corridor ’ .

For example , the Chairman , Senate Committee on the Army , Ali Ndume , who represents Borno South Senatorial District, in an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa Service on Wednesday, said terrorists never repent . He described the initiative as unacceptable to the people and that government should stop the programme forthwith .

He added , “ Not that they even apologised to you , they only apologised to the government with the thinking that government has failed and that is why they are being pampered. They (terrorists ) are like Kharijites . Many among those released have since run away . They will never repent . ”

He pointed out that one of the repentant terrorists had disappeared after killing and robbing his father .

Meanwhile , speaking further on the ills of the initiative , Ekhomu , who earned the Certified Protection Officer Instructor from the United States - based International Foundation for Protection Officers, stated that the programme was a reflection of misplaced priorities , noting that the country should have learnt from what happened to the late leader of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant , Ibrahim al - Baghdadi .

He added , “They (the terrorists ) have been a great threat to the society and they ought to be held. The point is that Operation Safe Corridor is a mistake . It’ s a mistake and a bad strategy because they cannot guarantee the outcome or that it would meet the policy objectives .

“ I keep telling them the famous story of ( Abu Bakr ) al -Baghdadi , who was released in a similar manner by the United States military in Iraq. They didn’ t know at that time they were releasing a guy who would go on to behead many Americans , Europeans and cause the death of many people .

“ Even though al- Baghdadi is in his grave , his hands are still here in the North- East of Nigeria , causing havoc for us .

“ So , what they are doing is recycling the fighters and the soldiers would wonder why the government is bringing in these people to fight them again . It’ s a nation that fights a war , not the army and that is why we have other institutions. Why can ’ t the criminal justice system work ? You keep them in a place for six months and then you turn back and say they are graduating them. What graduation ?”

Ekhomu described the programme as indefensible , noting that it must have been an initiative of the Boko Haram sympathisers . “ Many of the sympathisers have departed from it because they have seen the dangers in this , yet we are still defending it , ” he said . “ The other day , I saw one very laughable and ridiculous statement that the repentant terrorists have sworn allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria ; I laughed and asked if people could be so funny .

“ You mean a Jihadi guy swore allegiance to Nigeria , how does that work ? They don’ t care about you or your authorities ; they don’ t care about your government , neither do they have any regard for them . This is a very bad policy that should never have been brought in. ”

“ As of Friday , the war had been on for 11 years and four days and here we are. It started on July 26, 2009 in Bauchi State, is it not enough already? Killing their leader, Mohammed Yusuf , extrajudicially in July 2009 in Maiduguri is the silliest thing they (police ) have ever done .

“ You never kill the head of an insurgency ; you take him alive so that he can talk to his guys . We killed Yusuf but we are faced with Abubakar Shekau . Look at where we are. ”
Similarly, a security consultant and fellow, Institute of Security , Nigeria , Mr Chigozie Ubani , said even though he wasn’ t privy to what informed the decision to pardon the ex -fighters , they should be serving different jail terms considering what they were reported to have committed .

He explained that intelligence should have been extracted from them to strengthen the war against insurgency. “But I doubt, going by what we have , if that was done effectively or convincingly , ” he said .

He added , “The decision to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into the society is flawed , in my own view, but I wouldn’ t know what informed it and I wouldn’ t have advised that that measure should be taken because these guys would hardly repent.


https://punchng.com/outrage-as-fg-pampers-repentant-terrorists-while-idps-suffer/

That Nigeria govt. 4 you, when you started saying sai baba and change since 2015 to 2019....
Pls enjoy your change

Nawa

Wetin IDP wan do ? Beg FG to death ? Abegi come buy your kids Educational Tablets

He pointed out that one of the repentant terrorists had disappeared after killing and robbing his father

Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder. What a great injustice.

They killed their family. Used weapons and drove them away from their homes. Rape some of them, kidnapped alot of them, Destroy their wealth, have them leave their homes and beds to be suffering in a govt facility that is not well equipped.


Now, they're well treated. Given three square meals. Slaughter cows every day for them and have them trained and given a better life and money so as not to be hungry again.


Nigeria is a zoo.....I swear.

Today, terrorists have more value than peaceful citizens. Only under a Buhari government.

zxz

Outrage kor, inrage ni... Una neva see anything

Outrage from who?... when the IDP's are outraged, it would be visible to the blind and audible to the deaf.

The IDPs love their encampment. They're not outraged. When they are we'll know. Until then eku encampment o

Same way cows have more valuable than human life's..

Racoon:
Today, terrorists have more value than peaceful citizens. Only under a Buhari government.

May be FG don't want the acclaimed repentant terrorists to vex again...

Yeye people at the helm of affairs

The IDPs are crying for accommodation and food while terrorists are given red carpet reception.

Posterity will judge Muhammad Buhari for this singular act.

Madman.

Buhari in his wisdom and for the benefit of Northern political elites will want to keep the terrorists alive and in good condition. He rose to that power all because Jonathan was treating the terrorists with kids glove. Then, a lot of money was dedicated to fighting the terrorists and at the same time misappropriated. These were part of Jonathan's failure. These terrorists are kept purposely for same agenda if eventually they did not get the power in 2023. If they are all killed now, who will they use again. This is my opinion

helinues:
May be FG don't want the acclaimed repentant terrorists to vex again.Yeye people at the helm of affairs

helinues post=92363258:
This Farooq should stop all this unnecessary antagonist.Majority of the so called Boko Haram members were forced to fight for the terrorist group or lose their lives......

So both government pardoning terrorists and critics condemning their useless policies are all wrong? Why the double facedness man?

All I can say is the North brought all of these upon themselves
Go school dem no hear

helinues:
May be FG don't want the acclaimed repentant terrorists to vex again...

Yeye people at the helm of affairs

I thought you said aljazera told you these people were forced to join in the first place
Hypocrite
Enjoy what you sold to Nigerians

Abouwaza:
I thought you said aljazera told you these people were forced to join in the first place.Hypocrite! Enjoy what you sold to Nigerians.

The man always seems to be undecided.@ times he makes sensible observations but in most cases, they're incredibly insensible.Terrorists are wicked people who should never been given any consideration but the govt keeps doing the otherwise.

Racoon:

The man always seems to be undecided.@ times he makes sensible observations but in most cases, they're totally incredibly unreasonable.Terrorists are wicked people who should never been given any consideration but the govt keeps doing the otherwise.

U have said it all
he's undecided
He knows APC is evil but he loves Tinubu

Why the noise over their release? Where they not released by their leader and mentor, Bresident Buhari? Any Nigerian who expected anything to the contrary does not know what he or she is up to, with Buhari as president of this country. Buhari is basically in Aso rock just to execute his hidden satanic agenda of islamising this country. Just wait to see how islamist will soon engulf every city of this country and begin to murder everybody. That is when the reality of Buhari's presidency will dawn on all Nigerians.

helinues:
May be FG don't want the acclaimed repentant terrorists to vex again...
Yeye people at the helm of affairs

Buhari yeye?....
I will report you to supreme council of yoruba muslims..

zombieTRACKER:


Buhari yeye?....
I will report you to supreme council of yoruba muslims..

post=92362406:
Wetin IDP wan do ? Beg FG to death ? Abegi come buy your kids Educational Tablets

Smh

APC ARE ALL TERRORIST