Repentant Boko Haram terrorists have called upon the government to assist them in finding means of livelihood as they reintegrate into their communities following rehabilitation efforts.
Some of the former insurgents, who spoke with Channels TV at the Bulumkutu Rehabilitation Centre in Maiduguri, where the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, distributed food items to them and rescued Chibok girls, expressed concerns about their current circumstances.
Some of them have even contemplated returning to the bush due to their inability to secure a sustainable livelihood, the TV reported.
One of the repentant Boko Haram fighters, Ali Kaka, disclosed, “I am still living in the camp although I have been freed by the authorities, but I have nowhere to go.
“Many of us are idle to the point that some are contemplating returning to the bush. I was a welder and gun repairer while in Sambisa, and when I surrendered, I brought five guns with me as my contribution to the Nigerian government.”
Suleiman Abubakar, another repentant fighter, shared his reasons for surrendering: “I am one of those who surrendered their guns, and I did it because I got tired of killing and stealing and needed to start a new life. We took up arms because of a lack of jobs or tangible sources of livelihood.
“As such, I plead with the government to provide us with a source of livelihood so that some of us who have genuinely surrendered will not be tempted again.”
In response to their appeal, Minister Betta Edu assured them that the Federal Government is actively working to alleviate poverty among the less privileged in society, starting with the provision of grants and soft loans, which will soon commence.
The Bulumkutu Rehabilitation Centre serves as a facility where rescued individuals, including Chibok schoolgirls and repentant insurgents, are monitored and evaluated before their reintegration into society.
