Thirteen former fighters who had previously been part of the Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, have managed to escape after seizing rifles and motorcycles that were provided to them by the Borno State government. This government initiative had aimed to integrate these fighters into the military forces that were actively working to combat the insurgency in the region.
These repentant individuals are not alone in their past affiliations. They are part of a much larger group that includes thousands of other former Boko Haram members and their families who had given themselves up to the authorities. In fact, last year, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State shared with the public that over 160,000 individuals linked to Boko Haram, including their relatives, had voluntarily surrendered to the military during a significant and ongoing military offensive against insurgent groups.
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The process for managing these “repentant” Boko Haram fighters and their families is structured around what is known as the Borno Model. This model serves as a post-conflict amnesty program that concentrates on several key areas, including deradicalization, rehabilitation, reintegration, and the resettlement of individuals who are considered to be low-risk due to their past associations with armed insurgent groups.
According to sources who are well-informed about this program, there are nearly 6,000 combatants who are currently awaiting what is referred to as “transitional justice.” This term encompasses the ideas and actions related to addressing the legacies of past human rights abuses and conflicts. Both the complexities of their reintegration into society and the ongoing efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region have raised various challenges and discussions.