Injustice, Bad Governance Forced People into Terrorism – Gov. Mohammed

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI BAUCHI – Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Friday expressed regret that some people were forced into terrorism owing to injustice and bad governance in the country.

Governor Mohammed however expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for finding its necessary to come up with the intiative on the integration of repentant Boko Haram members into the society, describing it as a solution to some of the insecurity challenges in the country.

He therefore pledged to accept and integrate two indigenes of the state that are repentant Boko Haram members back into the community to live a normal life again.

Mohammed, who stated these when he received in audience, members of the Operation Safe Corridor, who visited him at the Government House, Bauchi, said the state government is ready to support the initiative to enable those involved to be integrated into the society.

He said that his administration has developed a model for interaction with stakeholders to address grievances.

Governor Mohammed therefore appealed to the management of the Operation Safe Corridor to be inclusive by engaging religious leaders in its activities so as to contribute in achieving the set objectives.

He further said; “We thank the President for finding it necessary to establish the operation which we believe is the only solution that will accommodate, integrate these people who engaged in terrorism for many perception and other reasons.

“Injustice and bad governance are some of the reasons for the involvement of people into criminal activities, but I want to request the coordinator of the operation to include religious leaders because of their influence in the society”.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the Operation Safe Corridor, Major General MB Shafa said the visit was to brief the Governor on the activities of the initiative and to solicited for his support for better performance.

He said the operation is a multi-agency humanitarian initiative guided by international, humanitarian and human right law.

Shafa said the operation has embarked on a tour to states of the North East in preparation for the re-integration of its clients who have been in training in the past six months.

He said; “In 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari established Operation Safe Corridor at a time when the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other Security Agencies were making significant gains in tackling insecurity in the northeast region.

“The President in his wisdom, saw the need to encourage those willing and repentant to lay down their arms and embrace peace so as to be rehabilitated and integrated into the society.

“Operation Safe Corridor with representatives from 17 different MDA’s, 468 staff. Two out of its participants who will be graduated this coming Saturday are from Bauchi state,” he said.