Ex-Boko Haram Member Fatima Musa Speaks on Regret and Reintegration

Fatima Musa, a former member of Boko Haram, has spoken out about her regret over her past involvement with the group, revealing that she and others were misled into believing they were on the right path.

“We were deceived into thinking we were doing the right thing. Now, I see how wrong we were,” she said during a community dialogue organized by the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, as reported by Tribune.

The Allamin Foundation, led by Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, focuses on rehabilitating and reintegrating former insurgents, especially women, into society. Religious scholars are involved in the process, helping them abandon extremist ideologies and understand Islam in its true form.

Hamsatu Allamin noted that some former members are now encouraging others to surrender.

“They are calling their friends, husbands, and children, urging them to surrender,” she said.

This effort is part of the Borno Model, a non-military reintegration strategy introduced by Governor Babagana Zulum. Retired Brigadier General Abdullahi Ishaq described the program as a “win-win situation”, contributing to over 300,000 defections from the terrorist group.

Governor Zulum emphasized that Borno chose peace over endless conflict.

“We had to decide—an endless war or accepting those who surrendered,” he stated.

The death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau also played a role in pushing fighters to surrender, as many lost direction and leadership.

“Most of those who started this movement are gone. It was easier to convince the rest to surrender,” said General Ishaq.

The Borno Model is inspired by UN-backed reintegration programs used in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Former insurgents undergo a structured process that includes:

• Disarmament
• De-radicalization
• Rehabilitation
• Reconciliation
• Vocational training

General Christopher Musa believes this approach could extend peace beyond the Northeast.

“This is a new beginning for Borno and Nigeria. If we manage this well, peace will spread beyond the Northeast,” he stated.