ABUJA, NIGERIA — Serving senior military officers have raised serious concerns over the continued integration of so-called “repentant” terrorists into security forces, alleging that these individuals are leaking critical operational information to Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents, resulting in deadly attacks and significant losses .
Speaking anonymously to newsmen, one senior officer disclosed that many soldiers in some units are former bandits recruited under government amnesty programmes who remain connected to their former associates. “Unfortunately many soldiers in some units are those recruited from the same bandits who claim to be repentant. They are still connected to their former brothers. This mistake occurred during the Buhari era and it may affect Nigeria for the next 30 years. That is why information keeps leaking,” the officer stated.
The allegations come amid escalating attacks in Borno State, where the military has confirmed the loss of three Lieutenant Colonels in recent days, with their units destroyed and equipment taken by insurgents. “In the last few days in Borno State, we have lost three Lieutenant Colonels, with their units destroyed and their equipment taken away. And up till now nothing significant is happening,” Rear Admiral Dickson Olisemelor (retd.) noted during a television interview.
Frontline soldiers have reportedly begun distancing themselves from former insurgents integrated into their camps. A military source told SaharaReporters: “In our camps now, we (soldiers) don’t trust these former Boko Haram members. We discovered recently that our operation and movements are being leaked to Boko Haram fighters and nobody would do that if not those ‘repentant’ terrorists”.
The soldiers described the policy of integrating repentant fighters into military operations as a “deadly mistake that continues to cost lives”.
According to multiple sources, some ex-fighters have been given motorbikes, stipends, and even military uniforms by state governments, allegedly to assist in counter-insurgency operations, but have instead used these arrangements to infiltrate the army and feed information back to terrorists.
Security experts warn that sleeper cells and sympathizers within communities and institutions remain a major challenge. Dr. Tony Ofoyetan, Director-General of the International Institute of Professional Security, explained that some politicians may be indirectly shielding terrorist networks due to past associations or political debts.
The military has denied recent claims of significant losses, describing them as terrorist propaganda. In a March 3 statement, Operation Hadin Kai spokesperson Lt. Col. Sani Uba said insurgents are circulating old images and recycled reports to create panic, insisting that coordinated air and ground offensives are yielding results against terrorists.
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