A new video making rounds on social media has left many Nigerians talking. In it, some repentant Boko Haram members, now staying in a rehabilitation camp in Borno State, say they surrendered because they were tired of killing innocent people and destroying families every day.………
An exclusive visit to the camp, which houses hundreds of former insurgents, showed men who once carried out deadly attacks that killed thousands and displaced millions across the Northeast. These ex-fighters are now said to be working with the Nigerian Armed Forces to fight terrorism. The video, which surfaced strongly on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, features repentant members explaining their change of heart.
One of them said: “We were tired of killing people and families every day. That was why we surrendered to the Nigerian military for rehabilitation.” Many in the camp went through deradicalisation programmes under Operation Safe Corridor and Borno State’s rehabilitation efforts before this stage.
The programme aims to turn former terrorists into useful members of society. Borno State Government even requires them to swear an oath on the Quran before full reintegration. But not everyone is happy. Some Nigerians fear these repentant fighters could still be dangerous or leak information back to their old groups.
On social media, reactions are hot. One user wrote: “Can former killers truly change, or is Nigeria taking a dangerous gamble?” Another said, “Reintegrating them while victims’ families suffer in IDP camps doesn’t make sense.” Many praised the move, saying it helps reduce recruitment by showing that peace is possible. Others warned: “They are not sincere and will betray the army.”
The military has denied claims that repentant fighters are armed and sent to the battlefield. They say the programme is only about rehabilitation and reintegration, not combat.
This development comes as Borno continues to battle Boko Haram and ISWAP. While soldiers risk their lives daily, many believe addressing root causes like injustice will stop new members from joining. If more fighters surrender and change, it could help bring lasting peace to the Northeast.
