Mixed feelings  in Dikwa, northeast Nigeria as the government is about to reintegrate into the communities former Boko Haram members who surrendered their arms .

But residents who spoke to Radio Ndarason International in Dikwa said that the idea would be difficult to accept.

“This is impossible, nobody would accept them. It is totally a waste of time and resources. Let them continue in the forest,” resident Umar Sadiq said.

Another, Umara Gumsumi, agreed. “Honestly, this is wrong, we can’t accept them. We would not trust them anymore. If the government is serious, let it detain or execute them. We know how we restored the relative peace that we are enjoying, we will not allow anyone to destroy it again.”

“From day one, Dikwa people have never liked the idea of reintegrating the terrorists back to the community,” said another.

Others were more open to the idea – Modu Bulama said, “It is not easy to accept them, but that is the only option as a law abiding citizen, I can’t fault the government.”

Imam Saleh of Dikwa Central mosque said that it is very difficult to forget the atrocities done by the insurgents, but he stressed the need to forgive the repentant Boko Haram in order to build a peaceful society.

In 2016 the military  launched Operation Safe Corridor, an initiative for the deradicalisation and rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram members.

The aim of the operation, says the military, is to reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members into society.