Soldiers battling insurgency in Nigeria's North-East have reportedly expressed concerns over an alleged directive requiring them to work alongside "repentant" Boko Haram members who were recently reintegrated under the Borno State Government's deradicalisation programme.
According to military personnel who spoke to SaharaReporters, the reported arrangement has sparked tension among troops on the frontline, with many fearing it could expose military operations to sabotage and intelligence leaks.
The sources alleged that some former Boko Haram fighters who have renounced insurgency and pledged loyalty to the Nigerian government have been attached to local security groups supporting military operations in Borno State as part of the state's rehabilitation initiative.
One soldier claimed many troops remain skeptical about the sincerity of the ex-insurgents, pointing to previous security breaches that have fueled distrust.
"The government wants to prove the programme is working, so some of these 'repentant' Boko Haram members are being attached to security groups that work with troops in operations," the soldier reportedly said.
"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 said the lack of confidence in the former insurgents is so significant that they are sometimes kept separate within military facilities.
"We don't trust them completely. There have been too many incidents in the past," the source said. "Yet now there is pressure for us to work closely with them during our missions."
The source further alleged that recent attacks resulting in the deaths of senior military officers may have been aided by intelligence leaks, warning that integrating former insurgents into operational support roles could heighten security risks.
"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," the source alleged.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian military nor the Borno State Government had publicly responded to the allegations. The claims remain unverified, and no official directive confirming the reported arrangement has been made public.
0 Comments