On Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that expanding facilities to reintegrate surrendering Islamist rebels in northeastern Nigeria was a critical step toward attaining peace in Africa’s most populous country.
Nigeria has been fighting the Islamist group Boko Haram and its spinoff Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) for more than a decade, in a conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions.
The government is reintegrating fighters who have voluntarily surrendered as part of its efforts to end the conflict.
Since last year, at least 40,000 Boko Haram fighters and their families have surrendered to police, according to Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum, as the group recovers from the murder of its leader in early 2021 and rival ISWAP moves to absorb them.
In the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, Guterres visited a camp housing some surrendered rebels and another housing internally displaced persons, later telling a news conference that the integration program will assist establish peace.
“The governor has told me that you need to build new facilities in order to have efficient reintegration of these ex-terrorists and ex-combatants,” Guterres said. “I promised that we would be totally supportive of that project.”
“The best thing we can do for peace is reintegrating people who, in a time of despair, became terrorists but now want to become citizens and contribute to their brothers and sisters’ well-being.”
The reintegration of the jihadists is causing problems, particularly in Maiduguri, where tired residents have been the target of Boko Haram’s violent attacks for more than a decade.
Guterres called for ongoing humanitarian aid in Borno, but stressed that those in camps ultimately wanted to return home “in safety and dignity.”
Although humanitarian agencies warn it is still unsafe for people to return to their homes, the Borno state government began shutting some camps for internally displaced persons in December, citing improved security and the surrender of Boko Haram fighters.
