Maiduguri – Northern Nigerian officials have called for central government help after the surrender in recent months of 3 000 people including hundreds of Boko Haram members and others living under jihadist rule.
Nigeria’s military has cited the development in the 12-year-long conflict as evidence they are succeeding against the jihadist group.
But the fighters and their families started coming in after Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau was killed during fighting with rival jihadists from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in May.
“We have a total number of about 3 000 of them at hand,” Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum said at a weekend meeting of regional officials.
Zulum made it clear that many who had surrendered were women, children and farmers who had been forced to work in what was Boko Haram-controlled territory.
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“About 600 700 are farmers. They were forcibly conscripted,” Zulum said, without giving details on the number of women and children.
A team of military intelligence, police, traditional rulers and local councils would interview those who surrendered, he said.
“The children and women, the farmers that have not done anything shall be considered and be released after due process,” he said.
“Others shall be handled according to the… rules and regulations.”
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Amnesty programmes for repentant Boko Haram fighters have sparked anger among victims of the group in northeast Nigeria where around 40 000 people have been killed and two million displaced.
The Nigerian military runs a deradicalisation scheme for repentant jihadists called Operation Safe Corridor, in which they undergo rehabilitation and receive vocational training.
But the main facility hosting those eligible for the programme has an estimated capacity of 700.
Zulum said “Borno state will work with security agencies with the view to profiling” those in custody and called on central government to provide more support.
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Picture: Getty Images
Source: AFP
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