The Borno State Government has announced plans to prosecute 6,900 Boko Haram suspects in its custody, according to Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo.
Gambo disclosed this in Maiduguri on Tuesday, stating that nearly 9,000 surrendered individuals had been reintegrated into society.
This includes over 800 deradicalized women who expressed remorse for their involvement with the terrorist group.
The commissioner attributed their involvement with Boko Haram to a lack of knowledge and brainwashing by insurgents.
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She explained that the state government will employ transitional justice to address the severe atrocities committed by Boko Haram, which may include restitution, reconciliation, prosecution, and amnesty.
To counter Boko Haram’s ideology, the government plans to use religious narratives to correct the misleading beliefs spread by the group. Hamsatu Allamin, Executive Director of the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, emphasized the importance of using religion to correct the narrative spread by Boko Haram.
The foundation’s ‘Building Bridges of Reconciliation’ project has sensitized deradicalized women, preparing them to contribute to peacebuilding and community development.