BY VICTOR IZEKOR
With the latest offensive on Boko Haram insurgents and bandits in Borno and its environs from its earlier defensive position, the Nigerian military’s hot chase is yielding dividends.
Some of the insurgents are giving up their arms and surrendering themselves.
This is news that has, however, thrown up another challenge that must be cautiously and passionately addressed by all stakeholders, if the desired peace must be ultimately achieved.
The gradual surrendering of the insurgents has raised questions which are thought provoking.
What prompted the sudden upsurge in the surrender episode? Is it out of hunger or out of conviction that after all, the whole exercise (insurgency) does not worth it in the first instance? Is it as a result of the onslaught mounted on the insurgents by the military, prompting the surrender as the best option rather than to be defeated and treated as prisoners of war? Should they be prosecuted or not? Will they be readily accepted in their hitherto communities where some of the insurgents have debased, abused or spilled blood, deaths and sorrow? If not where will they go?
Is there any assurance that if pardoned, rehabilitated and resettled, some of them will not go back to the trenches again having tasted blood? Will the offended communities and the victims of the insurgents allow to let go, forgive and forget? For the orphans in particular, who takes full responsibility of them to mature stage? What of the widowers who lost all? What about the widows who lost their children, husbands and the rest?
If some of the repentant insurgents are rejected rightly or wrongly by the people for one reason or the other, will they not go back to the bush again to join other terrorists? If this happens, are we not heading for endless terror war? Then where do we go from here?
These are questions that are trending, pricking, provoking and prodding demanding answers.
And before the shout of Jack Robinson and prompted by the emerging trend, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, the epi-center of the insurgency and the lion’s share bearer of the holocaust of Boko Haram bared his mind.
In the address: “Borno is in “CATCH-22 OVER BOKO HARAM’S SURRENDER,” Governor Zulum stated that Boko Haram fighters had left Borno in two extreme difficult situations in the ongoing surrender of some of its members.
The Governor, who addressed the military and community leaders at separate locations in the same matter, pointed out that the situation requires diverse stakeholders, including representatives of the attacked communities, to come together and critically review the pros and cons of the surrender, in order to agree on a framework that is well thought out.
While Zulum addressed the military commanders at the Brigades in Gwoza and Bama respectively, he equally passed the same message to community leaders at the palaces of the Emir of Gwoza and the Shehu of Bama, respectively.
The address is profound in thought, soul searching and raised fundamental issues from thorough examination and discourse. Since the address in question is the basis that informed this article, it is hereby reproduced for emphasis and point of reference in the ongoing discourse or discussion on where and how to accommodate the repentant insurgents.
“We (in Borno) are in a very difficult situation over the ongoing surrender by insurgents. We have to critically look between two extreme conditions and decide our future. We have to choose between endless wars or to cautiously accept the surrendered terrorists which is really painful and difficult for anyone that has lost loved ones, difficult for all of us and even for the military whose colleagues have died and for volunteers. No one would find it easy to accept killers of his or her parents, children and other loved ones. In the last 12 years we have been in this war, and we have lost thousands of fellow citizens. We don’t know the whereabouts of thousands of others; we don’t know whether they are alive or dead. In these 12 years, millions have been made homeless and many wealthy farmers, transporters and others have been rendered poor. In these years, we were able to cultivate maybe around 3% of the arable land, and as a result our people became dependent on food aid amid donor fatigue and potential food insecurity, infact the repercussions of the Boko Haram crisis are enormous and as someone who has been involved with assessment of the impacts and rebuilding efforts in the last seven years, I am in position to know the endless negative impact the Boko Haram has made in Borno,” Zulum said.
The governor pointed out accepting Boko Haram has the risk of seriously offending the feelings of victims with potential of civil rebellion, just as there is the risk that if Boko Haram fighters willing to surrender are rejected, they can join ISWAP to swell the ranks of fighters in the bush and the path of peace becomes narrowed.
Zulum went on “On my way travelling to Gwoza and Bama, I saw many people cultivating their farmlands by the roadside and this is an indication of emerging peace, which we have to sustain in order to salvage our people. However, like I said, we must come together to carefully analyze the two extremes and come up with a workable framework.”
He explained, that he would engage in high level consultations with President Muhammadu Buhari, Service Chiefs and resident security heads, traditional rulers, elders and religious leaders, national and state assembly members, academics and other stakeholders, particularly victims of the crimes perpetrated by the insurgents, so that stakeholders will critically review the situation and come up with a framework on how to move forward.
Reacting to Zulum’s address in its Editorial of Friday, August, 20, 2021, The Nation Newspaper pointed out that the surrendered Boko Haram cadres must face justice. Parts of the Editorial read, “No one,” Prof. Zulum insisted, “Would find it easy to accept killers of his or her parents, children and other loved ones.” True.
“The governor pointed out accepting Boko Haram has the risk of seriously offending the feelings of victims with potential of civil rebellion, just as there is the risk that if Boko Haram fighters willing to surrender are rejected, they can join ISWAP to swell the ranks of fighters in the bush and the path of peace becomes narrowed”
“Which is why there should really be no quandary, as to the fate the surrendering fighters should face justice. That is the only way to atone for their past crimes: against defenseless civilian victims; raped and captured women and children; and gallant officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, that lost lives and limbs, in spirited defense of motherland.
“Open, clear and transparent justice will also bring closure to the victims, heal the land of terrorist blights, teach the futility of dangerous Islamist radicalization and nurture sustainable peace, in lieu of destructive war, that has laid the area prostate for the past 12 years.
“This much has been vouched by the Audu Ogbeh-chaired Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), which just forcefully argued the surrendered terrorists must face justice. Pooh-poohing any talk of amnesty for insurgents, ACF argued any talk of such would destroy the basis for trying other ethnic agitator’s nation-wide, for breaching the peace.
“No one can question Governor Zulum’s bona fides, on the destruction Boko Haram wrought in Borno. He has offered leadership far beyond the call of duty, throwing himself in harm’s way so many times, to show solidarity and empathy with his beleaguered people.
“He has also encouraged and rewarded locals that have shown unusual courage in the face of the Boko Haram pestilence; and even called on the Federal Government to hire mercenaries to smoke out the insurgents and return peace to his state.
“That is why his mid-way plea must not be completely discarded, for short-term cessation of hostilities; and long-term sustainable peace.
“But let’s be clear again: there should be no talk of amnesty. Every surrendered insurrectionist must face justice. Still, the penalty regime must carefully differentiate between the mere foot soldiers (many of whom may have been suborned to the crime) and the grandmasters, who really are the evil brains behind the wanton terror.
“Whatever is decided, it should be clear to the surrendered, and the those thinking about surrendering, that they are better off, even while serving due punishment, than under the destructive Islamists in the bush.”
Similarly in his response, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, called for a national policy that would address issues regarding the status of the repentant insurgents in relation to the larger society. The Senate President, among others, is of the view that the affected repentant should each be treated strictly to the degree of his or her involvement.
The debate continues on this crucial matter whose treatment demands among others, cautious pragmatism, cunning skill, openness of mind, honesty and determination. It is an issue that should be all embracing in efforts and participation of all the stakeholders. The issue involves the stake of the nation and as such sentiments, emotion and travails should have no consideration in the final outcome of how to treat our misguided brothers who erroneously, rightly or wrongly chose to take up arms against their fatherland.
As we apply the law and seek solution to this delicate issue, we should equally seek the face of God for a fruitful outcome.
• Izekor, a journalist and public affairs analyst, writes at victorizekor@gmail.com
