Fatima Musa, a former member of the Boko Haram insurgency, has expressed deep regret for destroying her National Diploma Certificate after being misled by the group’s extremist ideology.
Musa, who has undergone deradicalization, shared her remorse during a community dialogue in Mafa Local Government Area, Borno State. The event was organized by the Allamin Foundation, a community-based NGO, with support from the British Government’s UKaid initiative.
Musa revealed that she, along with other young women, joined Boko Haram at a young age after being deceived into believing that Western education was forbidden. “We were misled as young people through the use of religion and later discovered that we went the wrong way after we were deradicalized by the foundation,” she said.
She credited her transformation to the guidance provided by Islamic clerics during the deradicalization process. “We met with clerics who put us on the right track regarding Islam. We are now mature and more knowledgeable in Islam and the teachings of the Holy Prophet that promote peace and tolerance,” Musa added.
Reflecting on her past actions, Musa expressed sorrow for tearing up her National Diploma Certificate, an act driven by the false belief that Western education was sinful. “One of my prayers, for now, 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 wish,” she said, acknowledging the pain her actions have caused her family.
Another former insurgent, identified as Bintu, also spoke at the event, pleading for forgiveness from the people of Mafa and urging for more support to reach out to those still in the bush. Bintu highlighted the challenges faced by repentant insurgents, including stigma and harassment, which sometimes drive them back to the group. “If you keep telling people they are doomed, they’ll say since there’s no forgiveness, they had better go back and continue,” she explained.
Bintu emphasized the importance of encouraging those who have surrendered to start new lives, noting that some return to insurgency due to the lack of acceptance and support in their communities. “Such repentants need to be encouraged to start a new life to sustain it,” she added.
Residents of Mafa who attended the dialogue echoed the need for more government involvement in the deradicalization and resettlement process. They called for increased empowerment support for both victims and those who have repented, as part of a broader strategy for transitional justice.
Babagana Butu, the leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Mafa, noted that some repentant insurgents have been successfully integrated into the community, even joining the task force’s patrols. “We provided them with farmlands to cultivate like everyone as part of the reintegration process,” Butu said, urging the government to include these individuals in its empowerment programs to help them rebuild their lives.
The dialogue also featured a lecture on Islamic teachings regarding peace, reconciliation, and coexistence, delivered by Sheikh Ali Mustapha, a Consultant and Peace Mediator. The event aimed to address the challenges faced during the reintegration process and to explore solutions for fostering peace and understanding in the community.
Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, Executive Director of the Allamin Foundation, expressed hope that the dialogue would help bridge gaps between repentant insurgents and the wider community, paving the way for lasting peace and reconciliation in the region.