The Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, has disclosed why the state is rehabilitating individuals considered as repentant members of Boko Haram after their arrest.

Speaking at a forum on preventing and countering violent extremism organised by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) in partnership with UN Women and Japanese Government in Abuja over the weekend, Gambo conceded that the term “repentant Boko Haram terrorists” emits wrong message to the general public, especially victims of terrorism.

The commissioner said that the de-radicalisation and reintegration programme of Boko Haram fighters have been grossly misunderstood by the public as a result of a communication gap between the government and the people. She declared that some of the arrested terrorists were at the wrong place at the wrong time and were also forced to join the terrorist group.

She said:

“Some of the persons reintegrated are victims who had no part to play but were arrested in the course of security checks by the military as they were caught at the wrong time in a wrong place.

Because they have spent time in detention between two to five years, there is need for rehabilitation, counselling and socio- psychological support.

We are not saying that there are not some people who have partaken in destruction of lives and properties but these people are in the minority and you also have to understand that these set of people joined involuntarily as they are forced to do so.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.