“BREAKING: Panic as 40 Repentant Boko Haram Terrorists Are Reportedly Shortlisted For 2026 Nigerian Army Recruitment. To Undergo Medicals” That was a recent headline news that went viral on social media which sparked public outrage amongst concerned Nigerians.
But it was good enough, that the Nigerian military in a prompt response strongly disclaimed it, maintaining that it does not recruit, enlist, or absorb repentant terrorists into its armed forces.
According to multiple official statements from Defence Headquarters and senior military leadership there is confirmation that former insurgents as well as people with criminal records are strictly barred from service. Yet, the fears and the pains remain, more so with the surviving victims of their kidnapping and blood-letting activities anytime they get to read about any form of amnesty programs for the so called “repentant” terrorists. Outrageous, is it not? Of course, it is.
Ordinarily, a government anywhere in the world is supposed to act as a protective and caring father -figure, providing for the needs of the children as members of the led majority. But when such a father openly displays more affection and attention to the stubborn and cruel children at the expense of the wellbeing and happiness of the others he has indirectly sent the wrong signal to the unprotected ones, by condoning the ills of the wicked ones and treating them with kid gloves when they do wrong. So, it pays to harm others, and go Scot-free, they ask? That indeed, is the recurring million-naira question bedeviling Nigeria’s socio-economic and political landscape ever since the Boko Haram insurgency started rearing its ugly head from the North East zone in 2009.
