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Thirteen “Repentant” Boko Haram Fighters Escape With Government-Issued Rifles, Motorcycles In Borno
nearly 6,000 combatants are currently awaiting “transitional justice,” while some have been incorporated into “hybrid forces” to aid the military.
Maiduguri, Borno State- Thirteen ex-fighters of the Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram) have escaped from a government-run rehabilitation program in Borno State, taking with them rifles and motorcycles provided as part of the state’s initiative to reintegrate former insurgents into society.
The terrorists are among thousands who had surrendered to the government amid ongoing military operations against Boko Haram.
Last year, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum announced that over 160,000 members and their families had voluntarily surrendered, seeking a new path under the Borno Model—an amnesty program focused on deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration of low-risk individuals associated with armed groups.
It was gathered that that nearly 6,000 combatants are currently awaiting “transitional justice,” while some have been incorporated into “hybrid forces” to aid the military.
The ex-fighters leverage their previous connections and knowledge of insurgent hideouts to assist in operations, including locating and destroying weapon caches and rescuing hostages.
A defense journalist highlighted the impact these former combatants have had, stating, “Their involvement has significantly helped the military,” particularly in operations around the Timbuktu area, where substantial ammunition was recovered
According to PREMIUM TIMES, ex-fighters who surrendered under the Borno Model programme were armed with sophisticated rifles, motorcycles, and ammunition by the military for joint counterinsurgency operations.
Sources confirmed that these weapons were consistently reclaimed after each mission.
However, on September 1st and 2nd, 13 of these ex-fighters attached to military units in Mafa escaped from their camp. Malik Samuel, a senior researcher with Good Governance Africa and an expert on jihadi groups in northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, explained that eight fighters fled on September 1st, followed by five more the next day.
The escapees reportedly contacted Abdullahi Ishaq, the government’s special adviser on security matters, threatening to carry out further violence.
Mr Ishaq, a retired brigadier general and proponent of the Borno Model programme, was unreachable for comment, as were officials from the military and the Borno State government.
This is not an isolated incident, as many former fighters and their families have reportedly returned to insurgent activities after surrendering.
Sources, including Mr. Samuel, described the situation as potentially planned, citing dissatisfaction with the Borno Model programme’s unfulfilled promises of skill training, stipends, and reintegration into society.
Mr. Samuel revealed that the escapees joined the Darul Gazuwa faction of Boko Haram, led by Alhai Kale, a group known for terrorizing villages around Bama, Konduga, Mafa, and Dikwa.
They avoided returning to other Boko Haram strongholds, such as Mandara Mountain or Barwa Island, where rival commanders Ali Ngulde and Bakura Doro are in control, due to the threat of execution.
Although Darul Gazuwa has disagreements with Boko Haram’s leadership, they are still considered part of the group, mainly engaging in kidnapping and robbery, driven by economic factors contributing to the fighters’ relapse into violence.