Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum yesterday said over 90 per cent of repentant Boko Haram members have truly changed.
Zulum spoke with State House correspondents after the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai had late last year said terrorists never genuinely repented from their ways, advising that terrorists must be eliminated.
Zulum, whose state started receiving repentant Boko Haram and ISWAP members last year, said they have shown genuine repentance.
When asked if he was confident that the terrorists were truly repentant, he said: “Hundred per cent confident. Yes. While no process is perfect in the entire world, so far, so good, the process has yielded positive results.
“I believe over 90% of those that have surrendered, are doing well and have given the government the necessary support. They’re also calling their colleagues in the bush to come out and join the process of peacebuilding.”
On the inauguration of the committee to resettle the IDPs, he said: “Indeed, we are so much happy, especially those of us that are in the Northeast because thousands of people were displaced, some are taking refuge in the Republic of Chad, in the Republic of Niger, Cameroon.”