Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has appealed to traditional and religious leaders in the North Eastern states affected by Boko Haram to accept insurgents that renounced their weird ideology and repent for re-integration into the society.
The CDD at a peace dialogue, in Maiduguri, on Tuesday, said only forgiveness and reconciliation can completely healed the wound of the nine-year violence.
“It is part of peace building process by CDD and our engagement in the North East,” CDD coordinator in Borno, Musa Zarami said.
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He said the dialogue, which comprised religious and traditional leaders, was designed to collect the views of the people about accepting repentant Boko Haram back in their society and pass such reactions to the relevant authority.
He said the dialogue was also to sensitise the leaders on the need for forgiveness. He said many of the Boko Haram men were conscripted into the terror act but decided to renounce the group, the reason they are being rehabilitated at the Operation SAVE CORRIDOR in Gombe established by the Federal Government.
Zarami said the dialogue, which was organised in collaboration with the Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiative (PCNI) and military Operation SAVE CORRIDOR, was supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
Coordinator, Operation SAVE CORRIDOR, Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Shafa, said 254 repentant Boko Haram members had undergone de-radicalisation and rehabilitation process at the Operation Centre, in Gombe.