By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Shehu of Borno, His Eminence, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai Umar El Kanemi has appealed to the government and development partners handling the reconcilation and reintegration of 6000 former non state combatabts and associates to endeavour to liaise with the district and village heads and other traditional council members across the state in the reconcilation and reintegration process.
He also directed all the district and village heads as well as the traditional council members to support and cooperate with the government and development partners handling the repentants deradicalization, reintegration and reunion with the society and repentants families as well as relations..
The royal father stated this on Wednesday at his palace in Maiduguri during the launching of public information campaign for support of the reconciliation and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram insurgents.
The traditional ruler who is also the Deputy National President, Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), said,” the insurgency has been in existence for 12 years now and if the voluntarily surrender of the former insurgents is a reality, their surrender is a welcome development”.
“I urge all the district and village heads to be deeply involved in the deradicalization and Reintegration process. I also appeal to the government and development partners, NGOs to liaise with traditional council members in the reintegration process”, Abubakar said.
He further noted that Borno is a home peace and known to be home of hospitality whole calling on the people to eschew bitterness and embrace peace, forgiveness and unity as well live in peace with one another as brothers and sisters without any suspicion, sabotage or betrayal from anybody.
The State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Hon. Bakura Abba Jato in his opening speech said the event was aimed at formally acknowledging the receipt of the former insurgents who were largely forced or conscripted into the militant group.
He maintained that most of repentants Haram insurgents that voluntarily surrendered to the Nigerian military at their will , both home and abroad with the intention to discontinue their barbaric and bastardized acts of abducting,raping, killing, bombing and burning of public and private property in the state and north east of Nigeria.
The Borno State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo said women and children are the most vulnerable victims who have suffered severely during the insurgency and largely displaced and are injured physically and psychologically.
She added that they are armless and helpless in need of livelihoods support, while urging the government and NGOs to continue to support the vulnerable women and children IDPs, especially, the physically challenged .
The commissioner also noted that most of the women and children were conscripted into the armed group not that they were combatabt fighters. She also solicited for their forgiveness and pardon from the people.
In her remark, the UNICEF Maiduguri Chief of Field Office, Ms Phuong T. Nguyen appreciated the royal father’s role and support to the development partners in the state and contributions to children and youths matters towards peace and tranquility.
She also solicited for the support of the state government in the reintegration process of the children and women who were formerly linked to the armed groups and recriuted by the non state security providers.
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