Gov Zulum admits Borno is in a ‘very difficult situation’ over reintegration of repentant terrorists

The plan to reintegrate repentant terrorists back into the society has thrown Borno state in a dilemma, as the state governor, Babagana Zulum admitted that the state is currently ‘in a very difficult situation.’

The state government recently announced its plan to return the surrendered and repentant terrorists back to their communities, but victims of insurgency in the state are confused on whether to accept the ex-insurgents or not.

In a statement by his special adviser Isa Gusau on Sunday, August 15, 2021, Governor Zulum said the situation required diverse stakeholders including representatives of attacked communities, to come together and critically review the pros, cons and implications of the reintegration.

The governor said that victims of terrorism in the state needed to choose between endless wars or cautiously accept the surrendered terrorists, while maintaining that no one would find it easy to accept killers of his or her parents.

Repentant Boko Haram terrorists (Businessday) Pulse Nigeria

He said, “We in Borno, are in a very difficult situation over the ongoing surrender by insurgents. We have to critically look between two extreme conditions and decide our future.

“We have to choose between endless wars or to cautiously accept the surrendered terrorists which is really painful and difficult for anyone that has lost loved ones, difficult for all of us and even for the military whose colleagues have died and for volunteers.

“No one would find it easy to accept killers of his or her parents, children and other loved ones. In the last 12 years we have been in this war, and we have lost thousands of fellow citizens.

“We do not know the whereabouts of thousands of others; we do not know whether they are alive or dead. In these 12 years, millions have been made homeless and many wealthy farmers, transporters and others have been rendered poor.

“In these years, we were able to cultivate maybe around 3% of the arable land, and as a result our people became dependent on food aid amid donor fatigue and potential food insecurity, in fact the repercussions of the Boko Haram crisis are enormous and as someone who has been involved with assessment of the impacts and rebuilding efforts in the last seven years, I am in position to know the endless negative impact the Boko Haram has made in Borno.”

On the one hand, Governor Zulum believes accepting repentant insurgents has the risk of seriously offending the feelings of victims with potential of civil rebellion. On the other, he feared if repentant terrorists are rejected, they might join ISWAP to swell the ranks of fighters in the bush.

Zulum, however, enjoined stakeholders and the people of the state to come together to carefully analyze the two extremes and come up with a workable framework.