Fatima Musa, a former Boko Haram member who has undergone a deradicalization program, has expressed deep regret for shredding her National Certificate in Education (NCE) after being misled into believing that Western education was forbidden by Islam.
Musa, who has been resettled in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, shared her remorse during a community dialogue in Maiduguri on understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence. The event was organized by Allamin Foundation, a community-based NGO, with support from the British Government under UKaid.
Speaking at the dialogue, Musa revealed how she and other young women were deceived into joining the insurgency through the manipulation of religious beliefs. “We were misled as young people through the use of religion and later discovered that we went the wrong way after being deradicalized by the foundation,” she said.
Musa now realizes the value of education and the true teachings of Islam, which 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,” she lamented.
One of Musa’s greatest hopes is to reconnect with her father, who is currently in a neighboring country, and seek his forgiveness for joining Boko Haram against his wishes.
Another former insurgent, Bintu, also spoke at the event, pleading for forgiveness from the people of Mafa and urging continued support for the foundation’s efforts to reach out to more women and men still in the bush. Bintu highlighted the challenges faced by some repentants, including stigma and harassment, which can lead to a return to insurgency.
“If you keep telling people they are doomed, they’ll say since there’s no forgiveness, they had better go back and continue,” Bintu explained. She emphasized the need for encouragement and support to help repentants start new lives and integrate back into society.
The leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Mafa, Babagana Butu, noted that some repentant insurgents have been integrated into the task force and are now contributing to community security. He called on the government to include these individuals in empowerment programs to help them sustain their new lives.
The Executive Director of Allamin Foundation, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, who organized the dialogue, said the event aimed to address issues arising from the reintegration process and discuss solutions to the challenges faced by repentant insurgents and their communities.
A lecture on Islamic rulings on peace, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence was delivered by Sheikh Ali Mustapha, a consultant and peace mediator. The dialogue is part of ongoing efforts to foster understanding and rebuild trust in communities affected by the insurgency.
Post a Comment