594 Repentant Boko Haram Terrorists Graduate, Make Promises To FG

At least 594 rehabilitated Boko Haram members have graduated from the Federal Government’s de-radicalisation programme camp in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the camp Commandant, Col. Uche Nnabuihe, said out of the 594 graduating repentant terrorists, 590 are Nigerians, while three are Nigeriens and one is a Chadian.

Nnabuihe stated that 588 clients are Muslims, while six are Christians, adding that the clients are from various parts of the country.

He said, “Fifteen clients hail from Adamawa, 495 from Borno, 16 from Yobe, 16 from Kano, three from Gombe, 13 from Kaduna, one from Kogi, 12 from Bauchi, five from Jigawa, five from Katsina, four from Kebbi, one from Nasarawa, one from Plateau, while two are from Zamfara states.”

Nnabuihe explained that upon arrival, medical tests were conducted on them while their data were captured by the National Identity Management Commission.

He said the medical tests were aimed at ascertaining the health status of the clients towards providing proper and adequate care during the deradicalization training cycle.

The camp commandant revealed that the repentant terrorists were trained in skills for self-reliance after re-interpretation with their communities in this regard.

Nnabuihe said eighty-five clients trained as barbers, 81 clients trained in shoemaking, 158 clients chose welding as their vocation of choice, 213 clients selected tailoring, and 38 clients were trained in carpentry.

He added that 28 learned skills in laundry services., and all the clients participated in the mandatory integrated farming, training activities which include agro, poultry, and fish farming.

Meanwhile, a repentant Boko Haram member, Muhammad Abba, apologised to Nigerians for their atrocities on various communities in the country.

Abba said, “We apologise for our various wrongs to our communities, and everyone sitting here. We extend our apology to all and sundry in the various communities that we come from; we are really very sorry and we are not going back to the very atrocities.

“We have taken the oath of allegiance to our peaceful, loving country, Nigeria. We know the consequences of taking an oath with the Quran or with the Holy Bible.

If you betray your oath, Allah will not be happy with you. He will punish you, even if you escape the security of Nigeria, you can’t escape Allah; we are certain of this. We will be faithful, loyal, faithful to the allegiance and oath we have taken.”