₦airaland Forum

The report listed some of the reasons the fighters deserted the terror group.

By Nasir Ayitogo


Over 4,000 Boko Haram fighters have deserted the extremist group, signalling a huge shrink in the rank of the terrorists, a report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has said.

According to the report, the deserters from the four Lake Chad Basin countries (Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria) are leaving for various reasons which include safety concerns.

Boko Haram and other terror groups have terrorised the Lake Chad Basin countries for over 10 years.

The unending terror war has displaced thousands of nationals of the four countries.

The crisis has also crippled economic activities in the once booming fish market in the region.

Thousands of people have been kidnapped by the terrorists and many killed.

Why fighters are deserting

According to the 28-page report, while some of the insurgents joined willingly, others were conscripted or abducted and held captive in Boko Haram strongholds.

The report said although accurate figures were difficult to find, their data suggests at least 2,400 desertions in Chad, 1,000 in Nigeria, 584 in Cameroon and 243 in Niger.

“Motives for leaving Boko Haram include individual circumstances, safety concerns and the groups’ internal dynamics, among others.

“On the individual level, some people disengage because their expectations – based on religious ideals or economic opportunities – have not been met.

“For others, poor living conditions in the camps are a factor. The exposure to intensifying military offensives such as air strikes by Lake Chad Basin countries and the effective deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force make the situation untenable,” the report partly read.

It also said the terrorists also impose harsh restrictions on members, along with permanent surveillance and corporal punishment for those suspected or convicted of deviating from the groups’ rules.

“These rules include ‘immorality’, stealing, drug abuse, etc. Within the group, the uneven application of rules fosters a sense of injustice. In some cases, the death penalty is applied. Inter-faction rivalries and violence have also caused people to leave.”

It further revealed that the uncertainty surrounding the fate of people who leave Boko Haram discourages others from making the same decision.

“The third problem is that communities aren’t centrally involved in reintegration processes even though they facilitate disengagement and are the first point of contact for ex-Boko Haram associates,” the report stated

Part of what the report recommended was that desertions need to be effectively managed.

“The way in which ex-Boko Haram associates are received and screened must be predictable and based on standard reception-screening-profiling mechanisms,” it said.

“Regional standards and protocols along with enabling legislation should guide demobilisation in the four Lake Chad Basin countries.”

“Specific policies on the role of women and children in violent extremism are also needed. To build societal resilience to groups like Boko Haram, community participation should be prioritised throughout the rehabilitation process, including design, implementation and evaluation.”

“Through cooperation and sharing lessons, countries in the Lake Chad Basin region can develop national and regional strategies that work.”

ISS Speaks

The ISS describes itself as a research-focussed African organisation committed to human security on the continent.

Teniola Tayo, a researcher at the Lake Chad Basin Institute for Security Studies, while commenting on the report via sms, said the various countries concerned have welcomed the report.

“Yes we had a closed dissemination webinar with stakeholders engaged in DDR in the four countries. They all welcomed the findings,” she said.

She said her organisation will be exploring ways to follow up with the countries individually.

When asked about the accuracy of their figures, another official of the organisation, Malik Samuel, stated that they (figures) were official.

“The figures of deserters quoted in the report were obtained from government authorities in the region. For instance, the figures from Nigeria were obtained from Operation Safe Corridors,” he said.

He said the major problem identified during the research was the difficulty of accurate figures of deserters because there were some who tried to leave the group and re-join the society without government intervention.

“In these cases, you see that it is difficult to get the actual numbers of deserters,” he said.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/457234-over-4000-fighters-desert-boko-haram-report.html

I hope and pray so ooo. The killings are just too much ooo.

Xscape1993:
I hope and pray so ooo. The killings are just too much ooo.

I hope they are not leaving to join bandits as it seems the government is still pampering bandits and are paying them in millions.....

They have been feeling the heat lately....

Our gallant soldiers should send the rest of them to where they belong

Or they resign from their position

fitzmayowa:
I hope they are not leaving to join bandits as it seems the government is still pampering bandits and are paying them in millions.....

Lmao. If na you nkor. Who go see where dem dey do faaji(banditry in NW) leave am go where dem dey do fasting(boko area NE)?

To wherr

more spies have been released ... the army should do the needful. Like Pantami, terrorists don't repent

Killing has not started yet, wait until next year.

that is when they will raise the tempo.

apply your sixth sense if you want to survive next year, it is not those useless wristband and apron that will save you.

Be well informed and take quick decision, study your environment.

be careful, your instincts should be your friend

They know they’re the ones in government. Terrorists in Nigerian government.

Wey dem dey

Yinmu.

dre11:
The report listed some of the reasons the fighters deserted the terror group.




https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/457234-over-4000-fighters-desert-boko-haram-report.html

Always round figure

dre11:
The report listed some of the reasons the fighters deserted the terror group.




https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/457234-over-4000-fighters-desert-boko-haram-report.html

This is complete wash.

There is nothing in this report that can substantiate the dwindling numbers of boko terrorists. All are mere speculations

God Bless Nigerian Armed Forces
God Bless President Buhari
God Bless Federal Republic of Nigeria

Xscape1993:
I hope and pray so ooo. The killings are just too much ooo.

Believe this at your peril!! Killings and abductions has intensified with ferocity, yet they want us to believe this narrative. This article is diversionary in its entirety.

There was a country

Let there be confusion in the enemy's camp

Iro nla

I thought they were flexing muscles with our gallant soldiers? Now they've been dealt with and are already running for their miserable lives. They've not seen anything yet, by the time our gallant military personnel are done with them they'll know the difference between Agbanistan and Nigeria. Our soldiers should do the needful and flush the remaining ones for good. All hail the Nigerian military.

A very big lie, it's very rare for a terrorist to leave his fellow terrorist. Ask issa pantami about that

We've 50,000 mAh powerbank for sale which can charge your devices for weeks.
Check my signature for more details

Una don start again, Nigerians sabi throw figures anyhow. Weldone!

Story , story - they are now bandits and kidnappers becoming rich on the misery of the innocent and oppressed.

Very funny assertion, but we still dont know their hideout and source of funding but know the numbers that has deserted. continue deceiving yourself.

Lies lies lies ..The Jihadist are at their highest strength

helinues:
They have been feeling the heat lately....

Our gallant soldiers should send the rest of them to where they belong

Gallant soldiers that are shutting down their camps in Niger state and running to the South to chase IPOB?