COMMUNITY RESIDENTS' PERCEPTION OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE REINTEGRATION OF REPENTANT BOKO HARAM INSURGENTS INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES IN NORTHEAST NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM BORNO AND YOBE STATES

Reintegration of ex-combatants has been a pressing issue across the globe over the past two decades. Governments and community members are concerned about accommodating ex-criminals who have surrendered their weapons and are willing to return to their communities. Borno and Yobe alone have received over 250,000 repentant Boko Haram insurgents with the aim of returning them to their communities in a meaningful and dignified manner. This study assessed the factors affecting repentant Boko Haram insurgents’ reintegration into their local communities in Northeastern Nigeria. Focus group discussion was used to interview some community members regarding their perceptions of the reintegration program and their responses were analyzed using IPA technique. The study revealed that the reintegration program is illusive because the ex-criminals have a strong allegiance to their former group. Hence, it is recommended that the government take drastic measures that will cut the strong allegiance between the repentant Boko Haram members and their former group to build the trust and confidence of the local communities to accept the repentant Boko Haram members.