Repentant Boko Haram Ex-Fighters Shortlisted for Nigerian Army Recruitment — ReportAt least 40 repentant former Boko Haram insurgents have been shortlisted for the Nigerian Army’s 91st Regular Recruits Intake (RRI 91), according to multiple security sources cited by SaharaReporters.
The report said the shortlisted individuals are among the 3,740 former Boko Haram members who were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society under the Borno State Government’s deradicalisation programme.Security sources familiar with the recruitment process reportedly confirmed that the former insurgents were included in the list of successful applicants for the ongoing recruitment exercise.
The reported development has raised concerns over the enlistment of rehabilitated ex-insurgents into the military, especially against the backdrop of Nigeria’s prolonged fight against terrorism in the North-East.Neither the Nigerian Army nor the Borno State Government had issued an official statement on the report as of the time of filing this story.
The identities of the shortlisted candidates and the specific stage of the recruitment process were also not disclosed.If confirmed, the development is likely to reignite public debate over the federal government’s deradicalisation and reintegration policy for former insurgents, as well as the criteria for recruitment into the nation’s armed forces.
Joseph Akwagiobe is a media contributor from Cross River State, Nigeria, currently based in Abuja. He is a graduate of Microbiology and has earned several professional certifications across diverse fields, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and excellence.