The Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, a community based NGO in Borno, says it has deradicalised 90 women and girls involved in insurgency in the state.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, made this known at the third batch graduation of 30 women and girls at a ceremony in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
Allamin said the women were part of the 800 women involved in the insurgency registered by the foundation in Maiduguri Metropolis and Jere Local Government Areas under its programme tagged: “Community Based Deradicalisation of Women and Girls in Borno.”
According to Allamin, the deradicalised women had helped in bringing out about 190 of their relatives involved in the insurgency out of the bush to surrender.
She lauded the Borno Government for introducing the “Borno Model” that provided room for repentant insurgents to continue to surrender.
While noting that there’s a lot of work to be done, Allamin called for support and collaboration with the state government and other stakeholders in taking the message of peace and reconciliation to all parts of the state.
In her speech, the Borno Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, lauded the foundation for its effectiveness in the deradicalisation process and assured it of support.
Gambo said that the Borno Model had led to the surrender of about 300,000 people comprising 6,760 fighters, 33,000 of their wives, 85,579 farmers they used as slaves and thousands of their children including unaccompanied children.
“The reality is that 90 per cent of those that surrendered are more of victims themselves as they were forcefully taken when their communities were occupied by the insurgents.
“As for the 6,760 fighters that surrendered who are in our custody, we won’t reintegrate them into the society because there’s a process to be followed including transitional justice,” Gambo said.
In his message at the occasion, the Theatre Commander, Operation Haidin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shuiabu, also appreciated the effort of the foundation and assured it of collaboration with the military.
Shuaibu noted that the latest operations by the military had led to the rescue of over 500 women and children.
Also speaking, the Adviser on Security to Borno Government, Brig.-Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq (rtd.) lauded the successes being recorded as more insurgents continue to surrender, pointing out that the recent bombings by the insurgents was out of frustration that their members were surrendering.
Others who spoke at the occasion showing support include representatives of International Organisations for Migration (IOM), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and traditional rulers.
Fati Musa, one of the deradicalised women, expressed gratitude for the salvation and thanked all those involved in saving them from what she described as the mistakes they made. (NAN)
