110 Women in Borno Renounce Boko Haram and Advocate for Change
In Borno State, 110 women who were once drawn into Boko Haram’s extremist ideology have successfully undergone deradicalisation and are now working as advocates for peace in their local communities. This was revealed by Hamsatu Allamin, Executive Secretary of the Al-Amin Foundation for Peace and Development, during her meeting with the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Lawan Wakilbe, in Maiduguri on Friday.
Allamin shared that these women, who had previously been misled by the insurgents’ distortion of Qur’anic and Hadith teachings, have experienced a profound transformation. They are now actively involved in countering the harmful messages of the terrorist group and promoting peace. The programme has not only reshaped their perspectives but has also empowered them to contribute positively to society.
“Many of these women have gone further to pursue Western education, which reflects their renewed commitment to peace and societal progress,” Allamin stated.
However, she raised concerns about the children of these women, noting that they too require special attention. Having been exposed to the traumatic effects of the insurgency, these children need targeted interventions to help them recover and reintegrate into society. “We are making efforts to provide care, but there is still much more to be done to ensure they fully overcome their past and regain a sense of normalcy,” she added.
Commissioner Wakilbe, in his remarks, emphasized the significant challenges facing children in Borno, especially those affected by Boko Haram’s violence. He expressed concern about the long-term prospects for reintegrating these children and called for greater collaboration with organizations to tackle this pressing issue. He highlighted that around 607,000 children in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, the majority of whom are girls, are in urgent need of education to prevent exploitation.
Wakilbe pledged his support for the foundation’s initiatives and encouraged the continued involvement of deradicalised women in advocacy efforts to inspire more individuals to surrender from extremist groups.
