Tension and unease are growing within the ranks of the Nigerian Army as several soldiers have voiced strong concerns over what they describe as a “dangerous and demoralizing policy” — being forced to work alongside so-called repentant Boko Haram fighters in Yobe and other parts of the insurgency-ravaged Northeast.
Multiple soldiers who spoke to Chronicles Reporters under condition of anonymity said they are now required to patrol, share intelligence, and even live in the same camps with ex-Boko Haram members who recently surrendered to the government.
“In our camp, we have repentant Boko Haram members — those who surrendered. They work with us and go on patrols to show us Boko Haram hideouts in the bush,” one soldier revealed.
“But we don’t trust them. Some of them have disappeared after gathering information from us, only to rejoin the terrorists. It’s risky and demoralizing.”
According to the soldiers, the policy — introduced as part of the government’s counterinsurgency strategy — has left many troops disillusioned and fearful. While military authorities claim the approach helps facilitate intelligence gathering, frontline soldiers say it exposes them to infiltration and betrayal.
Another soldier in Yobe explained that some of the “repentant” fighters are given accommodation inside military bases and are provided with food, stipends, and even motorcycles by the army and state governments.
“They are treated better than regular soldiers,” the source lamented. “They eat what we eat, wear our uniforms, and are paid by the state government. If they decide to run away, they can easily use those uniforms to commit crimes.”
Some of the fighters, Chronicles Reporters learned, have been embedded with units such as the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Gari, Sector 2 Headquarters in Damaturu, and other operational zones.
“These are people who killed our colleagues and civilians,” one visibly angry soldier said. “Now we are told to work with them as partners. It doesn’t make sense. We can never trust them.”
The arrangement, according to multiple accounts, has also caused resentment among rank-and-file troops, who feel sidelined and unappreciated compared to the ex-fighters being reintegrated under government programs.
The policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating Boko Haram members — a cornerstone of the government’s Operation Safe Corridor — has long been a source of public outrage. Critics argue that it rewards perpetrators while victims of the insurgency continue to suffer neglect.
Earlier reports indicated that several “repentant” fighters trained under the Borno State Government had escaped in 2024 with weapons and motorcycles provided to them for reintegration. In the same year, authorities disclosed that over 8,400 former Boko Haram members had been “successfully reintegrated” into society under what was described as the Borno Model.
However, soldiers currently stationed in Yobe and Borno say the program is jeopardizing national security and morale within the armed forces.
“We took an oath to defend Nigeria,” one soldier said. “But now, we’re being forced to sleep and fight alongside the same people who once attacked our bases. It’s not just dangerous — it’s humiliating.”
As of press time, the Nigerian Army Headquarters had not issued an official response to the growing discontent among troops over the policy.