Nigerian soldiers engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East have openly rejected an alleged fresh directive requiring them to work alongside former Boko Haram members reintegrated under the Borno State Government’s deradicalisation programme.
Military personnel, speaking on condition of anonymity, have expressed deep unease over the arrangement, warning that forcing troops to cooperate, share intelligence, or live alongside former insurgents poses a severe risk of military sabotage and operational leaks .
According to Nigerian Armed Forces & Military News sources, the concerns come weeks after the Borno State Government reintegrated 720 former insurgents, alongside 992 spouses and 2,050 children, into various communities under its “Borno Model” rehabilitation programme .
“The government wants to prove that the reintegration programme is working, so some of these ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members are being attached to security groups that work with troops in operations,” one soldier told SaharaReporters .
“But many of us are uncomfortable with the arrangement because there have been cases in the past where information leaked and operations were compromised. Trust is a major issue” .
Another military source maintained that troops remain skeptical about the loyalty of some former insurgents despite their participation in rehabilitation programmes.
“We don’t trust them completely. There have been too many incidents in the past. That is why they are often given separate accommodation. Yet now there is pressure for us to work closely with them during our missions,” the source said .
“This Won’t Work”
The soldiers pointed to recurring attacks on military commanders by insurgents as evidence of possible intelligence leaks within the ranks.
“You can see how these Boko Haram fighters have been killing our commanders. That should tell you there is a leak in information about their movements. Yet the government is asking us to trust these people and work with them. It won’t work,” a source added .
The personnel urged the Federal Government to prioritise improved equipment, intelligence support, and welfare packages for troops rather than compelling them to collaborate with former insurgents .
