The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, has said the concept of deradicalization of Boko Haram terrorists otherwise known as Safe Corridor is not working as expected.
Governor Zulum spoke Wednesday at the North-East Governors’ Forum meeting at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi state.
Other governors in attendance were Ahmed Fintiri of Adamawa, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir of Bauchi, while Taraba and Yobe states were represented by their deputies.
According to Zulum, those who have passed through the deradicalization initiative often go back to rejoin the terror group after they have spied on their host communities who often resent their presence.
He said: “Your Excellencies, another aspect of the war against the insurgency that needs to be urgently reviewed or modified, is the issue of deradicalization of Boko Haram terrorists, who have been captured or have willingly surrendered themselves to the authorities.
“It has been confirmed that the concept of deradicalization or Safe Corridor is not working as expected. Quite often, those who have passed through the Safe Corridor Initiative, or have been deradicalized, usually go back and rejoin the terror group after carefully studying the various security arrangements in their host communities, during the reintegration process.
“In addition, the host communities where the reintegration process is going on usually resent the presence of Boko Haram terrorists, even if they have been de-radicalized, because of the despicable and atrocious activities they have committed in the past.
“So the idea of deradicalization, as currently being implemented, needs to be reviewed because the main goals and the underlying objectives behind the initiative are not being achieved,” the governor said.
He further said: “The best option is to immediately prosecute the terrorists, in accordance with the Terrorism Act. However, those people who, ab initio, were forcefully recruited but have been rescued or have escaped from the group, should be the ones to be subjected to the deradicalization process.”
While saying the federal government seems not committed enough to the insurgency fight, the governor said time was ripe to seek foreign support to rout the terrorists.
He said: “The Federal Government has to look into the possibility of involving mercenaries with a view to ending the insurgency because it seems the commitment is not there.
“For us to end this insurgency, we must be committed enough. We must bring in external support to ensure mercenaries are hired to end this insurgency.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to seek for support from our neighbors, especially the Republic of Chad, Cameroon and Niger to provide a joint action that will look into the possibility of ending the crises.”
