1,400 Repentant Terrorists: What Nigerians are saying about the released Boko Haram suspects
On February 11 Nigerians woke up to the news that 1,400 ex-Boko Haram members have been released after undergoing rehabilitation. The Borno state government had revealed that the military has been releasing repentant Boko Haram suspects in batches since its ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ began in 2016.
Expectedly, a lot of Nigerians have condemned the move, calling it a spit in the face of the victims of Boko Haram, and all the people fighting to keep the country safe. Many were perplexed by the idea of granting amnesty to terrorists who have caused mayhem and untold suffering to Nigerians.
Since its first suicide attack at the Abuja police headquarters in 2011, Boko Haram, a jihadist terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria, has been responsible for the kidnapping, bombing, and death of many Nigerians.
Responding to the news of the alleged release of the 1,400 reformed Boko Haram suspects, Nigerians were quick to express their opinions on the matter.
Yemi Adebowale, who refers to himself as the Onisare of Ijanna Land took to Twitter to point out how it was disingenuous to release the suspected terrorists after an earlier attack claimed at least 30 lives in Auno, just outside Maiduguri, Borno state.
“Yesterday, Nigerians lost friends and family to the Boko Haram attack at Auno. Today, Boko Haram gained 1400 members who were arrested and now released as repentant. In this war, citizens are killed either as civilians or security forces. But there’s only one ENABLER,” Adebowale tweeted.
“Heard that 1400 repentant Boko haram members have been released. I want to believe it’s not true. What will be the motivation for soldiers to risk their lives fighting a sect that will always be later released? This is kindergarten leadership at its peak, if it’s true. Very wrong..” Apostle Johnson Suleiman ruminates in a tweet.
Clearing the air on the issue, the Borno State Commissioner for Information, Babakura Jato, said that most of the persons released were not actually Boko Haram members, but relatives of terrorists or innocent people who were arrested for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“The total number of persons released is 1,400. Out of the 1,400, the majority of them are cleared, suspects. These were people who were suspected of being members of Boko Haram and it was discovered that they were not,” he said.
He, however, admitted that there’s the possibility that few of them could also be repentant members of Boko Haram who have been fully de-radicalized.
“Repentant Indeed! I suggest all those in correctional facilities irrespective of their crimes should be released too, afterall they too must have repented by now..😭… Stupid Government!” an aggrieved young man, Nonso Achumnole shot at the commissioner.
While many Nigerians believe that the presumed Boko Haram members should not have been released, others support the government’s action.
“Most were suspects arrested during random raids by the military & after investigation & de-radicalisation many were found to be innocent & some just relatives of wanted BH members. They were never “repentant BH”,” Haruna Braimoh responded in a tweet.
The President of Military Widows Association, Mrs. Vera Aloko, told Punch that she is satisfied with the programme so long as it restores peace.
“It is true that our Vice-President, Mrs. Idith Opesanmi, faulted the Federal Government’s decision to release more repentant Boko Haram members. However, she spoke in her personal capacity and not for all military widows. We support the government and any policy that can restore peace,” she said.
The Nigerian government under Goodluck Jonathan had in 2013 approved the setting up of a committee to consider proposals for granting amnesty to members of Boko Haram. The proposal was seen as a cap-in-hand effort to end the violent terrorist attacks ravaging some parts of the country. Three years later it was eventually launched as ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ under President Buhari in 2016.
Last year, the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division, Major General Abdulmalik Biu had said in an interview with journalists in Abuja that a repentant Boko Haram member stands a chance to become the president of the country.
