A former female Boko Haram member, Fatima Musa, who underwent deradicalization and has been resettled in the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, expressed regret for tearing up her National Diploma Certificate.
Musa shared her experience during a community dialogue in Maiduguri, organized to foster understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence between repentant insurgents and community leaders. The event, supported by UKaid and facilitated by the Allamin Foundation, aimed to bridge the gap between the former insurgents and their communities.
Musa revealed that she, along with other women, joined Boko Haram at a young age after being misled by extremist teachings. She noted that the deradicalization process had helped them understand Islam better, with religious clerics guiding them toward the true teachings of peace and tolerance.
“I regret tearing up my NCE certificate when I accepted the false ideology that Western education was forbidden,” Musa said. She also expressed a deep desire to reconnect with her father, who had fled to a neighboring country, to seek his forgiveness for joining the group against his wishes.
Another repentant woman, identified as Bintu, also pleaded for forgiveness from the people of Mafa. She highlighted that some repentant insurgents return to the bush due to the stigma and harassment they face from community members, who tell them they are condemned despite their efforts to reintegrate. Bintu urged for more support for the foundation to reach out to others still in hiding.
Members of the community, including the leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Mafa, Babagana Butu, spoke about ongoing reintegration efforts, including providing farmland for repentant insurgents and working together to secure the area. They called on the government to increase empowerment programs to support both the victims and those who have surrendered.
The event also included a lecture on the Islamic principles of peace and reconciliation by Sheikh Ali Mustapha, a peace mediator. The dialogue focused on addressing the challenges of reintegration and finding a sustainable way forward.
