The Borno State Government has flagged-off a public campaign programme designed to reconcile and reintegrate repentant Boko-Haram members. The programme, funded by European Union, EU, is being executed in collaboration with UNICEF, UNDP, and IOM.
The State Commissioner of Information and Culture Babakura Abba-Jato, while speaking at the flag-off ceremony at the Shehu of Borno Palace in Maiduguri, stressed that 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.
He explained that 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.
In her remarks, the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, who spoke on women and children as the worst affected by the insurgency and other conflicts, urged for public support in ensuring that they are reintegrated. Also, speaking, the UNICEF Maiduguri Chief of Field Office, Phuong Nguyen, who also pleaded support for the reconciliation and reintegration programme, stressed the need for active involvement of the traditional institution.
