A repentant female Boko Haram who resettled in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno, Fatima Musa, has expressed regret over shredding her National Certificate of Education (NCE) after undergoing deradicalization.
Musa disclosed this in Maiduguri during a community dialogue organized by the community-based NGO, Allamin Foundation, with support from the British Government under UKaid on understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence organized for the repentant and community leaders of Mafa.
The repentant female Boko Haram, who was deradicalized along with other repentant women by the foundation, explained that many of them joined the insurgency at a young age after being misled through the use of religion and later discovered they had gone the wrong way after being deradicalized by the foundation.
“We met with clerics who put us on the right track regarding Islam. We are now mature and more knowledgeable about Islam and the teachings of the Holy Prophet that promote peace and tolerance.
“I regretted tearing up my NCE certificate when I mistakenly accepted the twisted ideology that Western education was Haram.
“My current prayer is to reach out to my father, who is now in a neighboring country, to beg for his forgiveness for joining the sect against his wishes,” she declared.
On her part, another deradicalized female, Bintu pleaded for forgiveness from the people of Mafa and urged support for the foundation to reach out to more women and men in the bush.
“A few cases of some repentants returning to the bush were due to stigma and harassment from some people, who told them they were doomed for hellfire despite their repentance.
“If people keep telling them they are doomed, they might think that since there is no forgiveness, it is better to return and continue their previous life.
“Some of the surrendered have easy money, while others loot in the bush. They are struggling for survival alongside other citizens in their communities.
“Such repentants need to be encouraged to start a new life and sustain it,” Bintu said.
In his remark, Babagana Butu, leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Mafa, explained that some members of the organizations include some of the repentant insurgents.
“We want the government to also remember them in its empowerment programs to enable them to sustain themselves and their families, as well as contribute positively to society,” he said.
But stressed that they patrol the area together and provide them with farmlands to cultivate as part of the reintegration process.
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