It’s been almost 15 years since the emergence of terrorism in the Northeast of Nigeria. The advent of Boko Haram, a militant Islamist terrorist group in July 2009 has led to the death of an estimated 35,000 people, and displaced thousands from their ancestral homes. Since then, other terrorist groups like the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have also emerged waging war against the Nigerian state. TINA ABEKU reports that while the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across camps in Nigeria live in indescribable distress, arrested terrorists said to have repented are treated kingly. 

They come from Gwoza, Pulka, Baga, Gofta, Fufore and Ganye among others, seeking shelter in places that are hundreds of kilometres away from their communities, fleeing vicious killings and destruction of their homes by Boko Haram (BH) terrorists. The insurgency has been ravaging the North-East for close to two decades, defying overt and covert efforts to stamp it out.

They are the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who are living in overcrowded and mostly unsanitised camps across the country, with little or no access to necessities of life. They lack adequate and nutritious food, shelter and clothes. These citizens do not have access to healthcare and clean water among others. They live daily hoping against hope that life would again return to the way it once was before they were forced out of their homes by terrorists.

Ironically, some of those who brought the ordeal on them have been told to ‘go and sin no more’, while the victims of their brutal crimes are still lost in IDPs camps suffering from neglect, lack, sickness and death. In these camps unborn babies and the newborn die owing to lack of proper care and access to health facilities. Also, mothers die during childbirth, adults due to poor health, while children as a result of starvation, exposure to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), human trafficking and many more.

According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), by the end of 2022, Nigeria had 3.6 million IDPs consisting of those that were displaced by insurgency and natural disasters such as floods. This implies that the figures would be higher in 2024.

A disaggregated data by the IOM Nigeria Displacement Report Round 41 showed that out of 2, 650, 043 IDPs in the Northeast, 452, 219 are households, 2,197,824 are individuals. Also, 24 per cent of the totals are women, 19 per cent men, 31 per cent girls and 26 per cent boys.

The data also indicated that out of the 2, 650, 043 IDPs, 2,306,407 are living in shelters or transit camps. These consist of 323,277 households, 1,983,130 individuals representing 22 per cent women, 18 per cent men, 32 per cent girls and 28 per cent boys.

Victims tell their tales of woe
When The Guardian visited IDP camps in Nasarawa state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it was a litany of sad tales. Maryam Filibus and her family were forced to leave their home in Gwoza, Borno state, 12 years ago when their community was over-run by Boko Haram terrorists. They now reside in Wassa camp on the outskirts of the FCT.
“We were forced to flee in the night when the terrorists invaded our home. We were told that if we could get to nearby Cameroon, we would be safe, so we trekked for several kilometres in bushes for days. It was in October, and we were still in the rainy period. At night, we slept in the open grass and if we find any form of shelter like schools, we sleep in the classrooms; it was a terrible experience I wish to forget,” Filibus said.

Narrating how the family got separated from their father as they trekked towards a border town, Kolofata, in Cameroon, Filibus said they met many more escapees and lost track of each other in those moments of tension. “All this time, we were trekking on foot, we are all tired, but we cannot stop for fear of the Boko Haram fighters, who were chasing us. In Kolofata, many families slept hungry in open spaces, uncompleted buildings and deserted schools.

“In Cameroon, the government provided free buses, which conveyed us to a camp for Nigerians escaping from Boko Haram. While on the camp, there was an outbreak of cholera and people were dying. Terrified by the outbreak, we decided to head back to Nigeria, and we did that by trekking to Madagali,” she explained, adding that they re-established contact with their father who was at the IDP camp in Wassa, FCT.

Lamenting about the difficulties faced by IDPs in Wassa camp, chairman of the camp, Joffrey Bitrus, said: “We have been in this camp for a long time without anyone checking up on us and I was beginning to wonder if it is because the camp is on the very far outskirts of the FCT, which is why nobody remembers us. Our population in this camp used to be above 5,000 but now it has increased to over 7,000, making it the largest IDPs camp in the FCT.”

Also, the chairman, Guruku Interfaith IDP camp in Nasarawa state, Monday Joshua, said since 2014, the camp has been receiving more IDPs across various states where insurgency and other clashes have ravaged many communities.

He said: “We have 254 families in this camp with an individual population of 2,084 persons and we still have others that are living outside the camp due to insufficient accommodation. Access to health care has been a challenge but we have a small clinic that we are managing. It is one man that built it and there are few nurses attending to us, but we still need more assistance. A large number of the population is suffering from malaria and typhoid. People from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states are accommodated here. I came from Gwoza town, in Gwoza local government area of Borno state, others from Maiduguri, Shua, Kanuri, Margi and others.”

Refugee chairman in Karu, Karshi Area Council, Abdulkadir Umaru, explained that they lack health care. According to him, many of the refugees have died on account of inadequate healthcare, while some are lying critically ill with no hope of relief. He added that a lot of the children in the camp do not go to school as their parents are unable to provide even notebooks and other basic items for their learning.

Umaru stated that they are doing their best to protect the refugees from further attacks by ensuring that only deserving persons are admitted into the camp. “Due to the security challenges in Nigeria, all new entrants are usually verified. We are working with the commissioners and security personnel to take the record of everybody both new and old, in the camp. We do this to ensure that anybody that comes from the north-east as an IDP is verified by trying to know where he was living and where he came from before we capture them in the camp data.

“In this camp, we have 562 households and over 2,116 children. Unfortunately, 620 of the children are not able to go to school due to lack of funds. Financial challenge is the main problem because the parents don’t have money and there is hunger. Some usually take their children to the farm to try and get food.

Overlooking citizens’ welfare, neglecting the displaced
There is no controversy about the fact that welfare of the citizens is the primary objective of the government. Unfortunately, there is no way to enforce this duty on government as the constitution makes it non justiciable. As a result, succeeding governments have paid lip service to the issue of insecurity. While those in their homes daily go about their businesses afraid of being kidnapped or killed by criminals or sleep with one eye closed, those in IDP camps suffer tremendous deprivation.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Relief Services reported that at the onset of the insurgency, an estimated 43,000 Nigerians consisting of 1,500 families, fled their homes. “Nigerians, who fled to Cameroon were arriving hungry and exhausted with wounded feet from the long journey, and with a high rate of respiratory infections among the children,” the report stated.

As governments at all levels continue to give the IDPs hope of returning home to pick up pieces of their lives, many of them say they are getting lifeless in IDPs camps. This, they said, is because they feel neglected and are tired of empty promises since they are not forthcoming.

In a passionate appeal to the new Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijjani Ahmed, who visited the Wassa camp late last year, Bitrus said: “I am pleading in the name of God that you continue to remember the poor and disadvantaged people like us because life has become increasingly challenging.

“We are facing a lot of challenges in this camp and our biggest problem is lack of accommodation. We are here occupying these dilapidated buildings as refugees, but we are just living here not knowing how to proceed or what the future holds as we cannot go back to our states, communities and homes owing to recurring attacks.” In an emotion-laden voice, Bitrus appealed to the government at all levels to investigate the plight of many IDPs and help reintegrate them into their new environments or resettle them in their communities of origin by making those places safe to live.

He pleaded with the government to come to their rescue, adding that there are some who are very ill. The ill, he said, cannot get up and there is no means of offering medical help to them due to lack of funds. Health care here is very expensive. We need help and assistance for the sick among us,” he quipped, adding that there is no secondary school close to them and the population of over 2000 people cannot educate their young ones or find jobs for the youths, who are unemployed.

Women Leader of the camp, Hafsat Haman, lamented that a lot of women give birth in the camp because there are no health care facilities around. He added that they do not have the facility for antenatal clinics. This, she said, has led to high infant and maternal mortality in the camp. “I have assisted many women in this camp to give birth. Another problem we have is that our children cannot go to secondary school because there is none close to the camp. We have also had very few cases of rape, but it has gone down now.

“My son went back to Borno but he couldn’t stay because Boko Haram is still disturbing them. Also, I went home to see my mother who is old and could not come with us. Over there, life is very difficult as some of us could not locate where our houses once stood. The whole place has turned to bush,” Haman explained.

She stated that life at the camp is more challenging because old people cannot support themselves in terms of feeding alongside children and young orphans. Those fit for labour cannot fend for the rest of their families as they all embark on menial jobs, she explained, adding that some kids who were born in the camp have not known their ancestral homes.

United Nations and government resettlement efforts
While the Federal Government through the refugee commission has promised to build resettlement cities for IDPs to help reintegrate them in their communities of origin, pundits have argued that there are no specifics timelines stipulated in carrying out the pledged assignment. They argued that rather than just building resettlement cities that could take years, immediate actions such as provision of means of livelihood and a sustainable form of intervention apart from just occasionally sharing cups of rice, pieces of seasoning cubes and other such, more concrete efforts should be taken to assuage the sufferings of IDPs.

As part of humanitarian assistance to migrants and internally displaced persons, IOM has been providing transit camps and shelter to those affected by insurgency in Borno, Adamawa and other parts of Nigeria. Speaking at an event towards a sustainable solution to the shelter crisis in Nigeria, IOM’s Chief of Mission, Laurent de Boeck, lamented that the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast is at an unprecedented high.

“As of 2023, an estimated 3.5 million have lost their homes or lived in precarious conditions. Nigeria currently experiences an acute housing deficit estimated at around 23 million, requiring the construction of one million housing units yearly for the next 20 years,” he pointed out, adding that the agency is working towards building permanent shelters for those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Northeast as a transition from temporary to durable self-sustaining homes.

According to him, IOM has designed a plan to come to their aid through the ‘home after crisis’ project funded by the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund (NHF) competition, which brings together 1,600 designers, architects and engineers across 100 countries. “The aim is to provide access to affordable housing, built with the goal of delivering climate proof-housing with local materials. The housing competition was initiated to engage the world in addressing these challenges,” he said.

Assuring that government is working towards rehabilitating displaced individuals back to their homes, Borno state governor, Babagana Zulum has assured that Borno state and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) is taking pragmatic steps in partnership with other stakeholders to reintegrate displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

Zulum said: “The security situation in Borno has improved by over 90 per cent. We are doing very well because we have many safe areas. Therefore, we shall do everything possible to ensure that houses are built and communities are resettled in a dignified manner according to the Kampala convention. The Kampala convention is an African Union charter ensuring the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons across Africa.

“Almost 90 per cent of our houses were destroyed by Boko Haram, but within the last twelve years beginning with my predecessor to date, we have built more than 30 or 40 per cent, although we still have a very huge and significant deficit amounting to not less than 500, 000 houses.”

For some of the displaced persons who spoke to The Guardian, returning to their home communities is proving to be an uphill task due to recurring attacks and wanton destruction of homes and property by the terrorists in volatile areas.

Terrorists released, IDPs not resettled
There are also safety concerns among IDPs who wish to resettle in their communities. Some have expressed worry that the release of repentant terrorists by the Federal Government back into the same communities they have destroyed poses danger and could be a setback to efforts of resettling the communities.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, had disclosed that 1, 935 repentant Boko Haram terrorists were released from the Bulumkutu camp in Borno State back into the society between 2016 and 2022 after undergoing deradicalisation sessions.

According to him, 67 per cent of those who surrendered belonged to the Abubakar Shekau faction of the insurgents, while 1,543 repentant terrorists graduated from Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State. Also, another 594 were recently set free by the Nigerian army under Operation Safe Corridor. This brings the total to 4,072.

In October 2022, there was public outcry over the secret release of 100 Boko Haram terrorists from Kirikiri Medium Security Custodial Centre in Lagos in the dead of night. Until the end of his tenure, the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami had pledged to begin the prosecution of captured BH members, but that never happened. Instead, they were secretly released, igniting outrage and speculations that the government of the former President, Muhammadu Buhari favoured that choice.

The fear of recidivism by the deradicalised terrorists is demonstrated in the report that they went on rampage in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital over alleged neglect by the authorities. This makes the whole situation more precarious and volatile for citizens, who are yet to get a closure on the atrocities of these men.

Nigerians react to the deradicalisation task
Some Nigerians have condemned the action of setting free repentant terrorists by the government, describing it as a threat to national security and attributed it to the escalating insecurity.

National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the release of over 1,935 repentant Boko Haram terrorists back into the society between 2016 and 2022 after reportedly undergoing deradicalisation will only heighten insecurity in Nigeria.

In a statement, HURIWA said: “Those at the top echelon of government who are negotiating and collecting generous commissions on unexecuted and fake Defence budgets running into trillions of Naira for over 10 years are the very persons pushing for their so-called ‘repentant terrorists’ to be released and reintegrated into the same society where they masterminded series of killings and attacks for nearly a decade.”

“This irrational talk about releasing over 600 hardcore terrorists that they re-baptised as ‘repentant terrorists’ is nothing but a gambit to keep up the tempo of vicious attacks by the terrorists so these fake defence contractors in government will continue to line their pockets with blood money whilst the people of Northeast perish and the millions of internally displaced persons and refugees forced to flee from Nigeria, while millions of other civilian victims of terrorist attacks are left to face their cruel fate under excruciating circumstances.”

Similarly, the Executive Director, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) and West African Regional Coordinator, African Security Sector Network (ASSN), Dr. Uju Agomoh, described as sensitive the issue of setting free repentant terrorists in Nigeria.

According to her, it involves a multitude of factors including security, justice, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

She noted that IDPs, who are victims of the terrorists, need adequate support, adding that concerns about the possibility of re-radicalisation among repentant terrorists as well as the potential threat they may pose to public safety are legitimate.

Dr. Agomoh said: “It is important to note that there is a humanitarian aspect to consider. It is good to rehabilitate and reintegrate individuals who have renounced their involvement in terrorist activities and seek to rejoin the society, however, in doing this, it is crucial that the process of rehabilitating and reintegrating them be conducted with utmost sincerity, care and compliance to established legal and ethical standards.

“This includes thorough vetting processes, appropriate psychological support, vocational training, and continuous monitoring to ensure that individuals are not seeking to take advantage of the system to perpetrate further violence. Furthermore, it is essential that the rights of victims and the broader community are taken into consideration. Victims of terrorism deserve recognition, support, and justice, and their voices should be central in decision-making processes related to the reintegration of repentant terrorists.”

She stated that in the context of Nigeria (as in some other jurisdictions), the issue of repentant terrorists is inherently linked to the broader challenges of addressing the root causes of insurgency, including socio-economic deprivation, political grievances and ideological radicalisation.

Agomoh argued that efforts to counter violent extremism and insurgency must encompass not only security responses, but thorough strategies that address the underlying drivers of conflict and promote social cohesion as well as inclusive governance.

For her, we need a holistic approach that involves multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, security forces, civil society, religious and community leaders, and international partners. Collaboration and coordination among these actors, she noted, are indispensable to ensure that reintegration efforts are effective and do not compromise national security.

“It is also important to have a transparent and accountable process for evaluating the effectiveness of reintegration programmes. Support and resources need to be provided to communities affected by terrorism. This is crucial if we truly desire to promote reconciliation and prevent the re-emergence of violent extremism. Such support may include economic development initiatives, psycho-social support, and initiatives aimed at fostering inter-community dialogue and understanding.

“In conclusion, it is important to note that the issue of repentant terrorists and their reintegration is a difficult and morally complex issue. It requires a delicate balance between security imperatives, humanitarian considerations, and justice for victims. Any approach to addressing this issue must be grounded in respect for the rule of law, human rights, and the principles of restorative justice,” she declared, insisting that there are no easy solutions to the challenges posed by repentant terrorists.
She maintained that the process of reintegration requires careful planning, diligent implementation, and endless evaluation. The goal, she said, should be to prevent further violence, promote reconciliation, and foster a peaceful and inclusive society for all Nigerians. “Sincerity of purpose, political will, effective and holistic approaches are keys to success on this,” she stressed.