“I Regret Tearing Up My Certificate,” Says Repentant Boko Haram Member

In Maiduguri, Fatima Musa, a reformed Boko Haram member from Mafa Local Government Area in Borno State, publicly expressed her regret for destroying her National Certificate of Education (NCE) after joining the insurgent group. Musa admitted that she tore up her certificate under the influence of Boko Haram’s anti-western education ideology.

During a community dialogue organized by the Allamin Foundation and supported by the UK government through UKaid, Musa revealed that she, along with other women, was misled into insurgency at a young age. The dialogue aimed at fostering understanding and peaceful coexistence featured discussions with community leaders and repentant insurgents.

Musa highlighted the misguided beliefs that led to her actions and expressed a desire to seek forgiveness from her father, who is currently residing in a neighboring country.

Another former Boko Haram member, Bintu, called for community support for the reintegration process and pleaded for an end to the stigma faced by repentant insurgents. Bintu noted that some returnees face harassment, which can lead them back to insurgency.

Local residents and Mafa’s Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) leader, Babagana Butu, called for increased government support in empowerment programs for both victims and former insurgents. The CJTF has integrated former fighters into its ranks, providing them with farmlands as part of the reintegration process.

The Executive Director of Allamin Foundation, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, emphasized that the dialogue was a platform to address challenges in the reintegration process. Sheikh Ali Mustapha, a consultant and peace mediator, delivered a lecture on Islamic principles of peace and reconciliation.