The Chief Imam of Malkohi Jumma'at Mosque, Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu has expressed optimism on the success of the transitional justice project in his community, saying their fears of accepting repentant Boko Haram was allayed when they started living together in peace.
The Cleric made this disclosure in an interview with one of the project facilitators Muhammad Rabi'u at Malkohi IDPs Camp.
The Imam recalled that the whole community rejected the coming of the IDPs when the government made the pronouncement some years back, but today they are living harmoniously. He said a similar reaction was expressed when repentant Boko Haram members were brought into the IDP camp to live with them. He said “we were all scared because to us, their repentance was not genuine so we were wondering how such category of people can live with us. But surprisingly, they are now fully reintegrated and we are living together in peace”.
The Scholar used the medium to appeal to the government and other relevant stakeholders to put mechanism in place in order to assist both the victims of insurgency and the repentant Boko Haram, saying that there should be no discrimination in granting assistance to those that deserve it, the victims are even more in need, he added.
While praying for peaceful coexistence in the country in general, The Imam assured the Commission of the cooperation of his community.
In another development, the IDps have expressed their dissatisfaction to the government over their current condition saying they are being neglected to their fate. They faulted the idea of prioritising the ex- Boko Haram members who have subjected them to their current trauma. They have also called on the government to be just and fair in an attempt to carry out reconciliation emphasizing that they should be the top priority of government.
