Some repentant Boko Haram insurgents Tuesday night invaded a police station in Maiduguri in an attempt to set free their colleagues that were arrested earlier over alleged drug offences, witnesses told the Daily Trust on Thursday.

However, Police Public Relations Officer in Borno State, Kenneth Daso, who confirmed that there was an incident at the police station, said the assailants were repelled by officers on duty.

Daso said the security breach was heralded by an operation carried out by the police.

He said, “On the 30/04/24 at about 1745hrs in a joint operation raid at the Kasuwar Fara, following an intelligence report that some drug peddlers, smokers, repentant and Boko Haram insurgents are indulging in nefarious activities, eight persons were arrested including seven male and a female in that operation with 476grams of illicit substances.

“As you know, such activities have been banned in the area by the state government since last year.

“Few hours after the arrest, some unscrupulous persons, so-called repentant Boko Haram, dressed up in military attire tried to invade our police station at Ibrahim Taiwo but were repelled immediately.

“Thereafter, they went and attacked Nigeria Immigration Service and NDLEA check points after the welcome to the township gate and they burnt it down,” he said.

ASP Kenneth said a serious investigation is currently ongoing to unravel those who were behind the acts.

They set some people free – Witnesses

However, some eyewitnesses told one of our correspondents that the attackers, dressed in military camouflage and wielding cutlasses, forcefully gained access into the police station and whisked away some suspects.

“About 20 of the attackers forced their way into the police station and escaped with some of the detained members.

“They left some policemen on duty wounded; they also went on rampage attacking passers-by with cutlasses, before reinforcements by the CRACKS team arrived,” he said.

Another witness said the police operatives in the station did their best to repel the attackers but were subdued.

“Some of the police operatives took to their heels but returned when reinforcements came. We were told that the actual suspects could not be freed, only some people at the counter escaped.

“It was a sad incident,” he said.

Residents in the area said they were scared by the development, saying the incident was a clear indication that Maiduguri is no longer safe.

Fanta Modu, who owns a restaurant around the area, urged the government to reconsider its approach to issues around the de-radicalisation exercise of the federal government.

“I was relatively young when followers of Mohammed Yusuf (Boko Haram founder) launched simultaneous attacks on Maiduguri in 2009. They also attacked the police headquarters at that time.

“Honestly, the recent event reminds me of that terrible incident. I am of the view that the so-called repentant Boko Haram members have not fully repented. They are not well refined because if they have been fully reintegrated into the society, why would they go back to drugs to the extent that they had the audacity to attack security posts?” she asked.

We’re yet to be briefed – Borno govt
Contacted last night, Abdulrahman Bundi, who is one of the spokespersons for Governor Babagana Zulum, said they were yet to be briefed on the matter and therefore, could not comment on it.

“I just read it on social media. There is no enough information but I assure you that the government will comment on the matter after we get the correct information on what transpired,” he said.

Daily Trust recalled that on March 5, 2021, Governor Zulum said the de-radicalisation of repentant Boko Haram members “is not working.”

Zulum, who spoke at the North-East Governors’ Forum meeting in Bauchi, said that the initiative needed to be reviewed because some of the ex-Boko Haram members only come to spy on communities and then return to join the group.

“It has been confirmed that the concept of de-radicalisation or Safe Corridor is not working as expected. Quite often, those who have passed through the Safe Corridor initiative, or have been de-radicalised, usually go back and re-join the terror group after carefully studying the various security arrangements in their host communities, during the reintegration process.

“So the idea of de-radicalisation, as currently being implemented, needs to be reviewed because the main goals and the underlying objectives behind the initiative are not being achieved,” he said.

The governor advised at the time that the best option is to immediately prosecute the insurgents in accordance with the Terrorism Act.

However, at a recent event, the Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, said that only about 5,000 out of the over 100,000 repentant Boko Haram members were actual insurgents.

Zuwaira disclosed this while presenting a paper titled ‘Borno Model’ at an event to commemorate the 2023 International Day of Peace, organised by an NGO, Peace Ambassador for Humanitarian Aid and Empowerment (PACHE).

She said: “Contrary to fears by the public that 100,000 were insurgents, only about 5,000 are actual fighters. Most of the others are farmers, women and children held hostage by the insurgents.

“Many of them are victims being held by the insurgents,” she said.

She said that those being de-radicalised and reintegrated back to their communities did not include the insurgents.

“We do not release the insurgents. We have records of the whereabouts of any person released,” she said.

Thousands of repentant terrorists released back into ‘communities’

Daily Trust reports that on January 24, 2024, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said that 1,935 Boko Haram terrorists were released back to the communities from the Bulumkutu camp in Maiduguri, Borno State in six years.

He said the insurgents were released between 2016 and 2022.

Musa, who was represented by the Director of Training, Defence Headquarters, Rear Adm. Daupreye Matthew, said this while delivering a lecture at the opening of the National Security Course on `Psychological Operations and Strategic Communication’ in Abuja.

“Also, 1,543 repentant terrorists graduated from Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State between 2016 and 2022.

“From July 2021 to May 4, 2022, alone, no fewer than 51,828 terrorists and their family members surrendered, out of which 13,360 were fighters,” the CDS had said.

Musa, however, said the military had up-scaled the use of hard and soft power in counter-insurgency operations to contain the emerging and changing nature of adversaries.

He said, “The use of non-kinetic efforts under Operation Safe Corridor led to the surrender of more than 2,000 Boko Haram members between 2016 and 2017. 67 per cent of those who surrendered were of the Abubakar Shekau faction of the insurgents.

“So far, 106,000 terrorists and their family members have surrendered in the North East.”

We must review de-radicalisation programme – Security expert

When contacted, a security analyst, Senator Iroegbu, said with what happened, the whole programme of reintegrating the Boko Haram insurgents needs to be re-evaluated.

“The danger now is that, what these repentant Boko Haram did has justified those who were in opposition to the reintegration programme in the first place, and it strengthens their voices.

“And, this has jeopardised the whole programme itself because it creates doubt that, are these people truly repentant? And it also put in danger the chances of those who genuinely would want to partake in the programme and take a new leaf.

“It is a call for those who are implementing the programme to evaluate it and know whether it should continue or not,” he said.

Source: https://dailytrust.com/Repentant-B/Haram-Members-Invade-Police-Station-In-Borno

Those are not repentant. Abi seh repentant don get new meaning ni?

helinues:
Those are not repentant. Abi seh repentant don get new meaning ni?

helinues There will never be peace in the zoo.





Just a reminder again.

See them? The effect of pampering terrorists

Nothing like repentant criminals in the South only in the North

I said it yesterday that the North is very backward and that anything negative in Nigeria they are top of the chart.

One oloribuku removed my comment.

This is what you get when a region pampers terrorists and make them their friends. And put their people in illeteracy and poverty. That is what you get

When I say SHETTI, You sayyyyyyyyyyyyyy. *Lips sealed*

QED!

Another legacy of the Buhari maladministration.
A terrorist never repent,they can only be reunited with their 72 virgins in the hell.

Nonsense news from Obidients, Nigeria haters.


As if when una Agulu Pandora Peter Obi the Gbajue was Governor of Anambra state, didn't MASSOB invade SARS office at Awkuzu?



Peter Obi will never be President even if Boko Haram and Bandit like they can take over Aso Rock, Obi will never rule Nigeria

Dis country shA.....different treatment for those foolish element in d north....different story for those in d south

This is nit news, nothing g new at all... It's all brotherly squabbles.

franchasofficia:
Nonsense news from Obidients, Nigeria haters.


As if when una Agulu Pandora Peter Obi the Gbajue was Governor of Anambra state, didn't MASSOB invade SARS office at Awkuzu?



Peter Obi will never be President even if Boko Haram and Bandit like they can take over Aso Rock, Obi will never rule Nigeria

Madman anthem!!! You are nothing but mischief maker and God damm and forsaken entity.

Somebody that have stayed in the bush for years. Muddered hundreds of Innocent souls. Kidnapped and rape saveral women. Ambush and kill many security agents. Hold the whole state to ransome for many years, then later came out and said " pls I have repented show me mercy and I will not sin again.

Our mumu govt without any consideration granted their wishes and gave them a befitting treatment as if the won a trophy for the govt. They didn't even stopped at , many of them were recruited into the arm forces.

Today, same repented terrorists are now attacking police station to set their members free. Una see this present govt and the one before this (buhari), they are very useless

Serves them right
Terrorists that should have been wasted

Lol
There is nothing like repentant Bokoharam if the person still indulge in Koran and Islam as a whole. How can you say someone is repented but you're trying to make the person good with the same book and in the same environment that made him dangerous in the first place? It is a paradox.
Good Nigerians beware!

PO come & see how you are inciting the SE against the government

Dem don sew repentant garments for them to deceive " PO will never be President" chanters

Smh
Criminals that should either be eating watery beans in prison or getting shot....these are the same criminals the FG and the military will waste taxpayers funds to rehabilitate!

I keep wondering when the military started to determine who among the repentant members are innocent or not esp in a civilian society!

When a crime is committed and the culprit is apprehended,they are handed to the police for prosecution and sentencing!

Some might argue that some of the bokoharam members were indoctrinated hence the need for rehab...however, ignorance of the law doesn't make you innocent!
If you do the crime,you do the time!

Nothing like repented boko haram


The govt of d North just playing poorlitics with them

There is nothing like repentant terrorists. We are just creating more damages to our security system

TechCapon:
The only repented bokoharam is a dead bokoharam

True talk

Repentant on paper. Hahaha

Can a man heap coals of fire on his bosom and not get burnt?

You recruit criminals , reprobates and riffraffs into the police force and you expect normalcy.you marry off children to rotten pedophiles and recycle poverty and illiteracy and you expect normalcy.the interesting thing is that the fowl has come to your dormot to roost.the wickedness and selfishness you planted has brought forth it's bitter fruits so you have to eat it like that whether you like it or not.its not kuku the poor alone they kidnap.them dey kidnap senators, traditional rulers and other people from the ruling class circle

Repentant ko, Redeemed ni …. Werey!

I’m waiting for the day same calamity will befall the bastard that brought the idea of repentance to terrorist in Nigeria.

…

Repentant indeed!

franchasofficia:
Nonsense news from Obidients, Nigeria haters.


As if when una Agulu Pandora Peter Obi the Gbajue was Governor of Anambra state, didn't MASSOB invade SARS office at Awkuzu?



Peter Obi will never be President even if Boko Haram and Bandit like they can take over Aso Rock, Obi will never rule Nigeria

Mods remove this kid from this platform...

It seems that it is just too easy for anyone to get and wear the military and police uniforms in northern Nigeria.
You seen armed robbers, kidnappers, bandits, terrorists and other criminals wearing military and police uniforms, and even taking videos and pictures with it even on social media ....

Northern Nigeria is really is big problem to the whole country.... Big shame and spits on them

Nice one

The only repented bokoharam is a dead bokoharam

they don drag colos...e don lie for them

I no talk am?!
Tinubu continues the demonic legacy of Buhari..

Continue . If I talk now dem go say I be toxic Bini man this and that , say envy dey my belle... Stupid pipu

Foolish goats

Good news

I fear the headline o. Invade keh? To do what exactly? Lolzzzzzz. Very misleading headline.