Fatima Musa, a former female member of Boko Haram who has undergone de-radicalisation, has expressed deep regret over destroying her National Certificate in Education (NCE) after being deceived into believing that Western education was forbidden. Speaking at a community dialogue meeting organised by the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, she recounted how extremist ideology shaped her past decisions and the painful realisation that she had been led astray.
She admitted that as young people with limited religious knowledge, she and many others were manipulated into abandoning formal education in favour of an extremist ideology that denounced modern learning as sinful. With a heavy heart, she recalled the moment she tore up her academic certificate, believing she was making a righteous choice. Years later, after undergoing a de-radicalisation programme, she realised the gravity of her mistake and the opportunities she had lost.
The Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, led by Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, has been instrumental in rehabilitating former insurgents, particularly women, who were indoctrinated into the ideology of Boko Haram. According to Allamin, extremist beliefs thrive on misinformation and a deliberate distortion of religious teachings. She explained that one of the foundation’s core strategies in de-radicalisation is engaging well-versed Islamic scholars who counter extremist ideologies with accurate religious teachings.
She noted that Boko Haram’s doctrine is rooted in a misinterpretation of Islamic principles and that it is crucial to correct these misconceptions to help former members reintegrate into society. Many of the women who were once part of the sect have now become key agents in persuading others, including their husbands and children still in the bush, to abandon extremism and surrender to the authorities.
The Borno Model, introduced in 2021 under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum, has been widely recognised for its success in encouraging thousands of Boko Haram and ISWAP members to surrender. This model takes a non-kinetic approach, meaning it does not rely solely on military force but instead provides a structured process for insurgents willing to lay down their arms. The initiative allows former fighters and their families to surrender at designated reception centres, where they undergo screening and rehabilitation.
Retired Brigadier-General Abdullahi Ishaq, the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, described the model as a community-driven initiative that offers a path to reconciliation and long-term peace. He noted that the first major wave of surrender began on July 5, 2021, when nine insurgents, accompanied by their wives and children, willingly handed themselves over in Maiduguri. Within months, over 100,000 individuals had surrendered, and by early 2024, the number had surpassed 300,000.
Security experts have clarified that not all who surrendered were combatants. Many were women, children, and civilians who had been forcefully conscripted into the group or held captive for years. Among them were kidnapped victims, including some of the Chibok girls, who are classified as rescued individuals rather than former insurgents.
The success of the Borno Model has gained international attention, leading to a formal partnership with the United Nations to support the management of mass surrenders. The initiative aligns with global frameworks for disengaging from terrorist organisations, following the principles of Disarmament, Demobilisation, De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, Reconciliation, and Reintegration.
The model is based on lessons learned from conflict resolution efforts in Sierra Leone and Liberia, where similar strategies helped end prolonged violence. Governor Zulum has emphasised that after more than a decade of war and devastation, Borno must embrace new strategies to achieve lasting peace. He acknowledged that the reintegration of surrendered insurgents remains a complex and sensitive issue, particularly for victims who lost loved ones to Boko Haram’s brutality. However, he stressed that prolonged conflict would only bring more destruction.
The mass surrender of Boko Haram fighters was largely triggered by the death of Abubakar Shekau, the group’s notorious leader. His demise created a power vacuum within the terrorist organisation, making it easier for authorities to negotiate surrenders. Many of the original extremists who co-founded Boko Haram alongside Mohammed Yusuf and Shekau were either killed in military operations or eliminated in internal leadership struggles.
Spiritual leaders involved in the de-radicalisation process have revealed that only a handful of the 300 individuals who initially formed Boko Haram are still alive. This shift in leadership dynamics made it possible for Nigerian authorities to open dialogue with disillusioned fighters, many of whom had been forcibly recruited and were looking for a way out.
Under the framework of the Borno Model, the military is responsible for disarmament and intelligence gathering, ensuring that surrendered fighters no longer pose a security threat. Meanwhile, religious scholars and counterterrorism experts handle the de-radicalisation process, which involves eliminating extremist ideologies and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Those who successfully complete rehabilitation programmes are then trained in various vocational skills to help them become self-reliant. Many ex-insurgents have learned trades such as carpentry, welding, tailoring, and soap making, allowing them to earn a livelihood and reintegrate into society.
Community acceptance plays a crucial role in the reintegration process. To prevent rejection and hostility, the government facilitates open dialogues where communities express their concerns and participate in decision-making. Town hall meetings allow local leaders, families, and security officials to discuss the best ways to reintegrate former insurgents without jeopardising public safety.
Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, Borno’s Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, has assured the public that the programme follows strict guidelines. She stated that no known combatant is released without proper vetting and that the government has records of every individual who has undergone rehabilitation. She also noted that before anyone is reintegrated, they must undergo intensive training on human rights and community values, and their return must be approved by their home communities.
Military officials have highlighted that non-kinetic approaches account for up to 70 percent of successful conflict resolutions. General Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, reaffirmed that the mass surrender initiative remains a critical opportunity to end the insurgency once and for all.
He called for a collective effort to ensure that the programme succeeds, stating that if peace is restored in Borno, it could serve as a model for stabilising other regions facing security challenges. Many residents of Borno have reported a noticeable decline in terrorist attacks and an improvement in economic activities such as farming and trade.
However, local communities and security experts urge the government to intensify operations in areas where insurgents are still active. The Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountains, and Lake Chad Basin remain strongholds for remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP, posing a continued threat to lasting peace.
President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to security agencies, tasking them with eliminating major security threats by December. Analysts believe that the intelligence gathered from surrendered insurgents could provide a strategic advantage in dismantling remaining terror cells if properly utilised. However, they warn that sustainable peace will require a combination of military action and long-term reintegration efforts.
The success of the Borno Model offers hope for a future free from insurgency, but experts stress that it must be strengthened through continuous community engagement, security vigilance, and economic empowerment. The path to peace is not easy, but with the right strategies, Borno and the entire Northeast region could finally turn the page on over a decade of terror.
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