Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has vouched for the sincerity of repentant Boko Haram insurgents, stating that he believes they have turned a new leaf.
It has been reported that the Governor made the submission on Wednesday while speaking with State House correspondents after the inauguration of the presidential committee on the repatriation, return, and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the north-east which took place at the presidential villa in Abuja.
According to the Governor, the repentant terrorists who are been deradicalized and rehabilitated under the Operation Safe Corridor programme have genuinely repented and can be trusted.
Asked if he was confident that the repentant insurgents are sincere about their intentions, the Borno governor replied: “100 percent confident”.
“While there is no any process that is perfect in the entire world, so far, so good, the process has yielded positive results,” he added.
“I believe that over 90 percent of those that have surrendered are doing well and have given the government the necessary support. They’re also calling their colleagues in the bush to come out and join the process of peacebuilding.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday assured residents of the North East that the defeat of Boko Haram insurgents would soon be achieved.
The Nigerian leader reaffirmed his conviction that the North East region will enjoy peace and stability, saying that the military is doing its possible best to win the war against insurgency.
Buhari assured the residents of the region that the nefarious activities of Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) will definitely be curtailed – making it the fourth time the President has promised to end the war against insurgency.
The President vowed that the region will witness a shift away from a protracted insurgency to peacebuilding, stabilization, and ultimately development in the coming months.
