Twenty children, comprising 10 girls and 10 boys, who were formerly associated with Boko Haram have been reintegrated into communities in Borno. The children, classified as low-risk minors, completed a deradicalisation programme and received livelihood support. They were trained in business management, record-keeping, savings, and business improvement to help them rebuild their lives. The programme was implemented under a project supported by the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN).
The reintegration exercise took place in Maiduguri on Saturday. Programme Manager with the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Dadun Hamza, spoke during the event. He said the minors received business materials after their training. The Foundation will monitor their progress and ensure they establish sustainable businesses. The businesses include welding, shoemaking, tailoring, thread shops, food vending, condiment and soup items, fabric and shoe selling, incense making, and grinding machines.
The ultimate goal of the programme is to achieve sustainable reintegration of the minors into their communities. Hamza said 20 women-headed households, identified as the most vulnerable in the areas where the children were reintegrated, also received support. This brings the total beneficiaries to 40. Most of the women were caring for children without male support, and supporting them will enable them to provide for their children while promoting acceptance of the returnees.
Involving host community members was intended to promote balance and strengthen the sustainability of the reintegration process. Hamza said this approach will ensure that the returnees are accepted and supported by their communities. The Executive Director of the Foundation, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, said the intervention was part of broader efforts by the government and stakeholders to stabilise communities affected by insurgency.
The programme aims to support the transition of individuals who had disengaged from the insurgency back to civilian life. Allamin said the Foundation is committed to helping individuals who have been associated with Boko Haram to reintegrate into society. The reintegration programme is a critical component of the government's efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate former Boko Haram members.
The Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development has been working to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of former Boko Haram members. The Foundation's efforts are focused on providing support to individuals who have disengaged from the insurgency. This includes providing livelihood support, training, and business materials to help them rebuild their lives.
The reintegration of the 20 ex-Boko Haram children is a significant step towards stabilising communities affected by insurgency in Borno. The programme demonstrates the government's commitment to supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of former Boko Haram members. The Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development will continue to monitor the progress of the returnees and provide support as needed.
Key points
- The programme aims to achieve sustainable reintegration of the minors into their communities.
- 20 women-headed households also received support, bringing the total beneficiaries to 40.
- The reintegration programme is a critical component of the government's efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate former Boko Haram members.
