Several Nigerian soldiers have accused the army of putting their lives at risk by forcing them to live and operate alongside former Boko Haram terrorists who recently claimed to have surrendered.
The soldiers, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, described the policy as dangerous and said they have been ordered to patrol, share intelligence and stay in the same military camps with the so-called repentant terrorists.
“In our camp, we have repentant Boko Haram members; those ones that surrendered,” one soldier said.
“They are working with us. We go on patrol together so that they can give us information about Boko Haram fighters still hiding in the bush.”
He said the initiative was introduced under the military’s counterinsurgency strategy but has instead created fear, distrust and tension within the ranks.
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“There are normal vigilantes, and there are repentant Boko Haram,” he added.
“Some of these people help us navigate the bush because they know the terrain, but we don’t trust them. Many of them have run back to the bush to rejoin Boko Haram after gathering information from us. That’s why we don’t believe they are truly repentant.”
Another soldier said that although not every base has ex-terrorists, those who are present are provided with their own lodging within military facilities.
“They gave them motorbikes and even allow them to wear army uniforms,” he said.
“If they run away, they can use the uniform to commit crimes. That’s why you see some of them wearing our uniforms outside.”
Some of the troops alleged that both the Yobe State Government and the Nigerian Army are providing the former insurgents with food and monetary allowances.
“The state government pays them salaries, and the army also feeds them whatever we eat in the camp,” another soldier said.
“We know them among the normal vigilante groups. Only our senior officers know their real numbers. We, the field soldiers, don’t like them, but our commanders say we must work with them. We have no choice.”
Sources confirmed that some of these ex-terrorists are now working under formations such as the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Gari and Kukareta Camp in Damaturu, Sector 2.
“We can never trust them,” one visibly angry soldier said.
“These are people who killed our colleagues and civilians. Then one day, they say they have surrendered, and the government forgives them just like that. Now we are forced to work with them. It doesn’t make sense.”
The policy of reintegrating former Boko Haram terrorists into security operations has continued to spark criticism among the public and within the army.
In 2024, at least 13 so-called repentant terrorists reportedly fled with weapons and motorcycles supplied by the Borno State Government while undergoing rehabilitation.
There were also reports last year that 8,490 ex-insurgents had been reintegrated into society under the Borno Model.
Story Credit: Sahara Reporters
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