“We were misled through the use of religion” Former female Boko Haram member expresses regret

August 5, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

A former female insurgent, Fatima Musa, who underwent deradicalization and resettlement in Borno State, has spoken out about her past actions with remorse.

During a community dialogue in Maiduguri, Musa revealed that she regrets shredding her National Diploma Certificate, a decision influenced by Boko Haram’s ideology against Western education.

The dialogue, organized by the Allamin Foundation with support from the British Government, aimed to promote understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among repentant Boko Haram members and community leaders. Musa, who was deradicalized along with other women, shared her story, highlighting how she and many others were misled into joining the insurgency at a young age.

“We were misled as young people through the use of religion and later discovered that we went the wrong way after were deradicalised by the foundation.

“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.

“I regret tearing my NCE certificate up when I made the mistake of accepting the twisted ideology that Western education was Haram.

“One of my prayers, for now, is to reach out to my father, who is now in a neighbouring country, to beg for his forgiveness for joining the sect against his wish,” she said.

Also another former member identified as Bintu, made a heartfelt appeal for forgiveness from the community of Mafa. She also urged for continued support for the foundation’s efforts to reach out to more individuals still in the bush, facilitating their return to society.

Bintu highlighted a critical challenge faced by some repentant insurgents: the stigma and harassment they encounter upon returning. She noted that some people tell them they are destined for hellfire, despite their efforts to renounce their past and start anew. This treatment, she explained, has led some former insurgents to return to the bush, underscoring the need for acceptance and reintegration support.

“If you keep telling people they are doomed, they’ll say since there’s no forgiveness, they had better go back and continue.

“Some of the surrendered have easy money and others loot in the bush. They are struggling for survival with other citizens in their communities.

“Such repentants need to be encouraged to start a new life to sustain it,” Bintu said.

The leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Mafa, Babagana Butu, said members now include some of the repentant insurgents.

“We patrol the area together. We provided them with farmlands to cultivate like everyone as part of the reintegration process.

“We want the government to also remember them in its empowerment programmes to enable them to sustain themselves and their families as well as contribute positively to the society,” Butu said.

However, the repentant Boko Haram members testimony serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of education and the need to counter extremist ideologies that seek to destroy opportunities for individuals, particularly women, to reach their full potential.