Fresh Tension as Soldiers Reject Working With ‘Repentant’ Insurgents

…Fear Sabotage, Intelligence Leaks
Nigerian soldiers engaged in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East have opposed a fresh move allegedly directing them to work alongside “repentant” terrorists recently reintegrated into society under Borno State’s de-radicalisation programme.

According to military personnel who spoke to the media, the development has created unease among troops on the frontlines, with many expressing concerns that the arrangement could expose military operations to sabotage and intelligence leaks.
Sources disclosed that some former Boko Haram fighters who publicly renounced insurgency and pledged allegiance to the Nigerian state during recent reintegration exercises have been attached to local security groups assisting military operations in parts of Borno State.
The soldiers claimed that the move is aimed at demonstrating the success of the state government’s rehabilitation and reintegration initiative, a programme that has faced criticism from members of the public, insurgency victims, and some security personnel.
According to the sources, troops and military authorities remain doubtful about the sincerity of several former insurgents despite their participation in rehabilitation programmes.
“The government wants to prove that the reintegration programme is working, so some of these ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members are being attached to security groups that work with troops in operations,” one soldier said.
“But many of us are uncomfortable with the arrangement because there have been cases in the past where information leaked and operations were compromised. Trust is a major issue.”
Another source stated that some former insurgents are intentionally housed separately within military facilities due to fears that they may still maintain links with active terrorist cells operating in the region.
“We don’t trust them completely. There have been too many incidents in the past. That is why they are often given separate accommodation. Yet now there is pressure for us to work closely with them during our missions,” the source said.
“You can see how these Boko Haram fighters have been killing our ogas (commanders). That should tell you there is a leak in information about their movements. Yet the government is asking us to trust these people and work with them. It won’t work,” the source added.
The soldiers maintained that rather than encouraging collaboration between troops and former Boko Haram fighters, the government should prioritise improved equipment, better intelligence support, and enhanced welfare packages for personnel risking their lives in the battle against terrorism.
They further noted that the directive has heightened anxiety among troops who fear that sensitive operational information could once again be exposed to insurgent groups still active in parts of Borno State and neighbouring areas.
The concerns come less than two weeks after the Borno State government reintegrated 720 “repentant” insurgents, along with 992 spouses and 2,050 children, into various communities under its “Borno Model” de-radicalisation and rehabilitation programme.