The “Borno Homegrown Model” is proving effective in countering violent extremism and weakening Boko Haram ideology in the state.
Retired Brig.-Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq, Special Adviser on Security to Gov. Babagana Zulum, made this known while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the ongoing National Summit on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), on Saturday in Abuja.
The summit, themed, “The Evolving Landscape of Violent Extremism: Emerging Issues in Niger and the sahel”, was organised by the PCVE Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub, in partnership with the PAVE.
Ishaq said the model combined disarmament, demobilisation and de-radicalisation, alongside strong community-driven counter-narratives.
“Most of these fighters were misled by ideology. We are countering that using Islamic scholars, mothers and even repentant fighters themselves.
“For example, when we tell them the paradise of a child lies at the footstep of the mother, many who abandoned their mothers for 15 years are shaken. It compels them to reconsider their path,” he said.
The security adviser explained that testimonies from repentant fighters had further exposed the futility of Boko Haram’s cause.
“We discovered something striking — when a Boko Haram fighter dies, within two hours the body turns black, decomposes and produces offensive odour.
“Those who surrendered describe it as azaba (punishment) from God. This revelation alone has convinced many to abandon the group,” he added.
Ishaq said that more than 300,000 fighters and family members had surrendered so far under the programme, with most reintegrated into farming and small businesses after vocational training.
On concerns about returnees going back to the bush, he dismissed such fears as exaggerated.
According to him, once they surrender, they are made to swear on the Holy Qur’an never to return. Those who attempted going back were either killed or returned with intelligence.
“The idea of mass return to the bush is not true,” he said.
The Borno official acknowledged, however, that some leaders were still holding out because of what he described as “war economy” and foreign interests.
“Some people profit from supplying fuel, food and other items to terrorists. And internationally, there are actors who don’t want this war to end. That is why asymmetric warfare is complicated,” he said.
Ishaq urged communities to continue supporting security forces with information while warning that intelligence leaks only endangered civilians.
He maintained that the use of mothers and families remained the most powerful tool in compelling hardened fighters to abandon terrorism.
“In some cases, mothers told their sons to return home before the end of Ramadan or face the consequences. Those who disobeyed died in battle.
“We use such examples as powerful lessons,” he said.
Freedomonline reports that the “Borno homegrown model” is a community-driven initiative implemented by the Borno State government in Nigeria to address the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency Introduced in 2021,
Freedomonline reports that the initiative uses dialogue and media campaigns to persuade militants to lay down their arms.
It has led to the surrender of over 300,000 individuals, including combatants, non-combatants, and their families.
