The senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has kicked against the reintegration of ex-Boko Haram fighters into society.

Ndume, who made this assertion while speaking on a BBC Hausa service programme, asked the government to stop rehabilitating ex-insurgents, arguing that they would never repent.

The Nigeria military has since 2016 been running Operation Safe Corridor, an initiative for the de-radicalisation and rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram fighters. The aim of the operation, the military had also said, is to reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members into society. About 600 ex-Boko Haram members completed a de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration (DRR) programme in July.

‘This government’s programme is unacceptable to our people. The right thing is to stop it, forthwith,’ he said.

‘Not that they even apologised to you, they apologised to the government with the thinking that government has failed and that is why they are being pampered. They are like Kharajites. Many among those released have since run away. They will never repent. The government should know what to do about them. But not re-introducing someone to you, who has killed your parent, or your relations. If there is the sincerity of purpose in this, those in the IDP camps should be trained in various trades and vocation so that they could start life again.’

Borno residents had reportedly kicked against reintegration. Instead of bringing them back to society, the residents had said they should be taken to the government house.