The Borno State government has officially reintegrated 720 repentant Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) ex-combatants, alongside 3,042 of their family members, back into local communities.
The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Security, Brig. Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq (retd), announced the development on Friday during the Batch 9 disengagement and reintegration ceremony for low-risk repentant insurgents in Maiduguri.
The newly released cohort comprises 720 men, 992 spouses, and 2,050 children who have successfully completed the state’s rehabilitation process.
Gen. Ishaq emphasized that the discharge marks a significant milestone for the “Borno Model,” a non-kinetic strategy designed to combat terrorism across the state and the wider Northeast region.
Describing the initiative as one of the most effective non-kinetic programs in modern history, he revealed that over 350,000 individuals have willingly surrendered to the military since the program’s inception.
According to the security adviser, the journey to reformation for this latest batch began when former colleagues contacted them from within the communities, encouraging them to abandon terrorism and reunite with their families.
The rehabilitation process involved a structured transition where the former insurgents initially exited the forests to report to the nearest military locations.
Upon arrival, they underwent comprehensive profiling, and those carrying weapons formally surrendered their arms to the troops.
This collaborative approach has been central to the state’s security framework, pivoting toward community-driven reconciliation alongside traditional military operations.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Permanent Secretary, Babagana Kadai—representing Commissioner Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo—hailed the graduation as a celebration of hope, resilience, and reconciliation.
The representative noted that the initiative has been a continuous success story since July 2021, when the citizens of Borno State collectively agreed to forgive and accept back their estranged relatives who were willing to embrace lasting peace.
