… Says Captives Had No Choice Under Insurgents
… Deadly IED Strikes During Zamfara Clearance Mission
Daud Olatunji
Amid renewed concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, a self-proclaimed repentant member of the Boko Haram insurgent group has appealed for forgiveness and reintegration, even as three police operatives were killed in a deadly roadside bomb attack in Zamfara State.
The ex-fighter, who appeared in a viral video aired by a private television station, claimed that he and several others were forcibly recruited when Boko Haram overran Bama during the peak of the insurgency.
He insisted that many residents who remained in the town at the time had no option but to submit to the terrorists’ control.
“We did not join Boko Haram voluntarily. When they captured Bama, many of us were forced into their ranks,” he said.
The former insurgent pleaded with Nigerians to forgive those who have surrendered, stressing that they are willing to embrace peace and contribute meaningfully to society.
“We are asking Nigerians to accept us. We have changed and we will never go back to terrorism again. We are ready to work with the authorities for peace and a better Nigeria,” he added.
He also expressed readiness to cooperate with security agencies and government-led deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes aimed at restoring stability in the North-East.
However, his appeal comes against the backdrop of a fresh wave of violence in the North-West, where bandits have intensified attacks, including the use of improvised explosive devices.
On Monday, three police officers, including a senior commander, were killed when an IED suspected to have been planted by armed bandits exploded along the Anka–Bagega Road.
The incident, which occurred around 5:05 p.m. during a clearance operation in Anka Local Government Area, involved a team from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit and the Force’s Violence Crime Response Unit.
Security sources said the officers were conducting a routine sweep of the area to detect and neutralise explosives when their armoured personnel carrier struck a buried device.
The explosion killed Superintendent of Police Abdulrazak Musa Hassan, who led the EOD team, alongside Inspector Murtala Musa and Inspector Auwal Ahmad.
Their remains are expected to be evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau for post-mortem examinations.
The Anka–Bagega axis has remained a volatile corridor plagued by repeated bandit attacks, ambushes and the growing deployment of roadside explosives targeting both civilians and security personnel.
Although authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the latest attack, the incident underscores escalating fears over the evolving tactics of armed groups, even as the government continues to pursue deradicalisation efforts for repentant insurgents.
The contrasting developments highlight the complex nature of Nigeria’s security challenges, where attempts at reconciliation and rehabilitation are unfolding alongside persistent and deadly threats across multiple regions.
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