Borno commences rehabilitation programme for repentant Boko Haram members

Borno State Government has commenced a public campaign programme designed to reconcile and reintegrate repentant Boko-Haram elements.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme, funded by European Union (EU), is being executed in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Speaking at the ceremony at the Shehu of Borno on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Babakura Abba-Jato, said there is the need to accept the repentant insurgents, particularly women and children who are also victims that were forced to stay with the insurgents.

Abba-Jato said investigation showed that majority of the 6,000 that surrendered were women and children and some men in communities occupied by the insurgency, who were forced to stay and farm for the insurgents.