The Borno State Government has announced that no fewer than 6,900 individuals, suspected of being Boko Haram fighters and currently in custody, are set to face transitional justice.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, during the conclusion of a best practice dissemination and learning programme organized by the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, held in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
Commissioner Gambo revealed that since the mass surrender initiative began in 2021, approximately 200,000 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to the state government. Of these, nearly 9,000 individuals have been successfully reintegrated into society.
“So far, about 200,000 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have surrendered to the state government. Let me clarify, we have about 6,900 genuine Boko Haram fighters in our custody, and they will face transitional justice because they have committed crimes. We are working on that; they are real fighters,” she stated.
Transitional justice, a peace-building mechanism, aims to address the legacies of severe atrocities and end recurring cycles of violent conflict through a range of responses, including restitution, reconciliation, prosecution, and amnesty.