“These are people who killed our colleagues and civilians. Then one day, they say they have surrendered, and the government forgives them just like that. Now we are forced to work with them.
It doesn’t make sense.” By Jake Clifford Last updated Oct 24, 2025 0 Share Advertisements Several Nigerian soldiers have expressed anger and fear over what they described as a dangerous policy by the Nigerian Army compelling troops to work alongside ‘repentant’ Boko Haram fighters in parts of Yobe and other states in the Northeast, SaharaReporters has learnt.
According to multiple military sources who spoke exclusively to SaharaReporters, the soldiers said their commanders were forcing them to patrol, share intelligence, and even live in the same camps with former Boko Haram members who “surrendered” to the government despite deep distrust and repeated cases of betrayal.
“In our camp, we have repentant Boko Haram members; those ones that surrendered. They are working with us. We go on patrol together so that they can give us information about Boko Haram fighters still hiding in the bush,” one soldier said.
The source explained that the arrangement, which was introduced as part of the Nigerian military’s counterinsurgency strategy, has left many soldiers uncomfortable and suspicious. “There are normal vigilantes, and there are repentant Boko Haram,” the soldier continued.
“Some of these people help us navigate the bush because they know the terrain, but we don’t trust them. Many of them have run back to the bush to rejoin Boko Haram after gathering information from us. That’s why we don’t believe they are truly repentant.”
Another source disclosed that, while not all army camps have “repentant fighters,” those that do are given separate accommodation within military bases and are supported by both the army and state governments
