Ex-Boko Haram Fighters Complete Rehabilitation in Borno

Ibrahim Moham, a former Boko Haram fighter, shared his experience during a ceremony marking the end of a rehabilitation program in Maiduguri, Borno State. This initiative, part of a non-military effort to counter insurgency, has successfully rehabilitated 720 ex-combatants since its inception in 2021.

Participants, including Bulama Mukhtar and Mustapha Kaka, swore an oath to not rejoin jihadist groups and received vocational training in skills such as car repair and tailoring. Many former fighters, including Idri Abdulkadir, who had been part of Boko Haram and its rival ISWAP, expressed a newfound understanding of the violence they inflicted and the importance of family.

The program aims to foster self-reliance among participants, with the hope of stabilizing the region. However, concerns remain about granting amnesty to those who committed serious atrocities, as noted by security advisor Adebayo Flaw.