Boko Haram Fighters’ Surrender A Difficult Situation, Says Zulum

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has said the surrender
of Boko Haram fighters had put the state in what he called two
extremely difficult situations.

The governor spoke at the weekend in Bama and Gwoza, where he
also addressed military officers and community leaders.

He said the situation required diverse stakeholders, including
representatives of attacked communities, to work together and
review the merits and the demerits of the surrender to enable them
agree on a framework for a permanent solution.

Zulum travelled to Gwoza and Bama local government areas for
humanitarian and developmental activities before addressing
military commanders at the Brigades in Gwoza and Bama, as well as
community leaders at the palaces of the Emir of Gwoza and Shehu of
Bama. The governor delivered the same message in both towns.

“We (in Borno) are in a very difficult situation over the
ongoing surrender by insurgents. We have to critically look between
two extreme conditions and decide our future.

“We have to choose between an endless war or to cautiously
accept the surrendered terrorists, which is really painful and
difficult for anyone that has lost loved ones, difficult for all of
us and even for the military, whose colleagues have died, and for
volunteers.

“No one would find it easy to accept killers of his or her
parents, children and other loved ones.

“In the last 12 years, we have been in this war, and we have
lost thousands of fellow citizens. We don’t know the whereabouts of
thousands of others: we don’t know whether they are alive or
dead.

“In these 12 years, millions have been made homeless and many
wealthy farmers, transporters and others have been rendered poor.
In these years, we were able to cultivate maybe around 3 per cent
of the arable land. As a result, our people became dependent on
food aid amid donor fatigue and potential food insecurity.

“In fact, the repercussions of the Boko Haram crisis are
enormous. As someone who has been involved with assessment of the
impacts and rebuilding efforts in the last seven years, I am in
position to know the endless negative impact the Boko Haram has
made in Borno,” Zulum said.

The governor said accepting Boko Haram has the risk of seriously
offending the feelings of victims with the potential of generating
civil rebellion.

He noted that there is also the risk that if Boko Haram fighters
willing to surrender are rejected, they could join the Islamic
State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) to swell the ranks of
fighters in the bush and the path of peace becomes narrowed.

“While travelling to Gwoza and Bama, I saw many people
cultivating their farmlands by the roadside. This is an indication
of emerging peace, which we have to sustain in order to salvage our
people. However, like I said, we must come together to carefully
analyse the two extremes and come up with a workable framework,”
Zulum said.

The governor promised to engage in high-level consultations with
President Muhammadu Buhari, the Service Chiefs, resident security
heads, traditional rulers, elders and religious leaders, national
and state lawmakers, academics and other stakeholders, particularly
victims of the crimes perpetrated by the insurgents, for them to
critically review the situation and come up with a framework on how
to ensure lasting peace.

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has said the surrender
of Boko Haram fighters had put the state in what he called two
extremely difficult situations.

The governor spoke at the weekend in Bama and Gwoza, where he
also addressed military officers and community leaders.

He said the situation required diverse stakeholders, including
representatives of attacked communities, to work together and
review the merits and the demerits of the surrender to enable them
agree on a framework for a permanent solution.

Zulum travelled to Gwoza and Bama local government areas for
humanitarian and developmental activities before addressing
military commanders at the Brigades in Gwoza and Bama, as well as
community leaders at the palaces of the Emir of Gwoza and Shehu of
Bama. The governor delivered the same message in both towns.

“We (in Borno) are in a very difficult situation over the
ongoing surrender by insurgents. We have to critically look between
two extreme conditions and decide our future.

“We have to choose between an endless war or to cautiously
accept the surrendered terrorists, which is really painful and
difficult for anyone that has lost loved ones, difficult for all of
us and even for the military, whose colleagues have died, and for
volunteers.

“No one would find it easy to accept killers of his or her
parents, children and other loved ones.

“In the last 12 years, we have been in this war, and we have
lost thousands of fellow citizens. We don’t know the whereabouts of
thousands of others: we don’t know whether they are alive or
dead.

“In these 12 years, millions have been made homeless and many
wealthy farmers, transporters and others have been rendered poor.
In these years, we were able to cultivate maybe around 3 per cent
of the arable land. As a result, our people became dependent on
food aid amid donor fatigue and potential food insecurity.

“In fact, the repercussions of the Boko Haram crisis are
enormous. As someone who has been involved with assessment of the
impacts and rebuilding efforts in the last seven years, I am in
position to know the endless negative impact the Boko Haram has
made in Borno,” Zulum said.

The governor said accepting Boko Haram has the risk of seriously
offending the feelings of victims with the potential of generating
civil rebellion.

He noted that there is also the risk that if Boko Haram fighters
willing to surrender are rejected, they could join the Islamic
State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) to swell the ranks of
fighters in the bush and the path of peace becomes narrowed.

“While travelling to Gwoza and Bama, I saw many people
cultivating their farmlands by the roadside. This is an indication
of emerging peace, which we have to sustain in order to salvage our
people. However, like I said, we must come together to carefully
analyse the two extremes and come up with a workable framework,”
Zulum said.

The governor promised to engage in high-level consultations with
President Muhammadu Buhari, the Service Chiefs, resident security
heads, traditional rulers, elders and religious leaders, national
and state lawmakers, academics and other stakeholders, particularly
victims of the crimes perpetrated by the insurgents, for them to
critically review the situation and come up with a framework on how
to ensure lasting peace.