Zuwaira Gambo, the women affairs commissioner in Borno, says only about 5,000 out of the over 100,000 repentant Boko Haram members were actual insurgents.

Ms Gambo disclosed this in Maiduguri while presenting a paper titled ‘Borno Model’ at an event commemorating the 2023 International Day of Peace, organised by the Peace Ambassador for Humanitarian Aid and Empowerment (PACHE).

“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,” said Ms Gambo.

Ms Gambo noted that those deradicalised and reintegrated into their communities did not include the insurgents.

“We do not release the insurgents. We have records of the whereabouts of any person released,” added Ms Gambo.

The Borno commissioner said before the release of anyone and reintegration back into his community, such persons must undergo three weeks of intensive training on human rights from security and religious leaders, and his community must be adequately contacted to endorse their return.

The commissioner solicited the international community’s support for the government to succeed in bringing lasting peace to the state.

The ‘Borno Model’ is a non-kinetic approach aimed at handling counter-insurgency efforts and addressing humanitarian crises for over one decade. 

(NAN)