No fewer than 13 repentant Boko Haram ex-fighters have escaped with rifles and motorcycles they got from the Borno State government, which co-opted them to join military operatives in the fight against insurgency in the State.

They are among hundreds of former Boko Haram fighters and their families who surrendered to the government.

Reports said 13 of them attached to the military operatives in Mafa escaped from their camp between September 1 and 2.

Last year, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, said that more than 160,000 Boko Haram members and their families voluntarily surrendered to the military amid a sustained onslaught.

The “repentant” Boko Haram members and their families are being managed under the Borno Model, a post-conflict amnesty programme with a focus on de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, reintegration and resettlement of low-risk persons previously associated with armed groups.

According to reports, nearly 6,000 combatants are awaiting “transitional justice,” and Borno State Government further co-opted some of the ex-fighters into the fight against insurgency, helping the military to penetrate deep into the terrorists’ enclaves.

The “repentant” fighters have become helpful to the military. They are popularly known as “hybrid forces” formed by the military fighting insurgency in Borno State

“Together, they have conducted joint operations to locate and destroy Boko Haram weapons caches, rescue hostages, and fight the remaining jihadists.”

The Director of Defence Media Operation, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, could not be reached for comments.

The Rivers State Government has set up a judiciary of inquiry into the arson, killings, and other forms of violence that occurred in the State on Monday.

The move was after Ikwerre, Eleme, and Emohua local government council secretariats were set ablaze following the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats on the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Following the attacks, the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, vowed to take decisive action against those responsible for setting ablaze three local government secretariats.

He pledged that the incident, unlike previous cases, will not be ignored, as his administration will collaborate with security agencies to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable.

A statement by the Office of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo on Tuesday, said the setting up of the judicial committee was pursuant to Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Law, Cap 30, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.

The statement said, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has approved the Setting-up of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the arson, killings, and wanton destruction of property at some Local Government Council Headquarters which occurred on or about Monday, October 7, 2024.”

Members of the Commission are:

(1)        Hon. Justice I.R. Minakiri                   –           Chairman

(2)        Barr. Felicia Nwoke                            –           Member

(3)        Prof. Blessing Didia                            –           Member

(4)        Sir Samuel Egbe                                              –           Member

(5)        Venerable Alex Usifor                                    –           Member

(6)        Barr. Uzor Ikenga                               –           Counsel to the Commission

(7)        Mrs. Inyingi Brown                            –           Secretary

Members of the Commission have been sworn at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has announced Osun State as its South-West Zonal Headquarters, according to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi.

The development was disclosed to the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Technical and Vocational Education, Arch.Dapo Ademola-Adesina by the ITF management on Monday.

Recall that Arch. Dapo had on the 30th of May 2024, during a courtesy visit to the agency, proposed a collaboration with the Osun State Board for Technical and Vocational Education in the areas of Vocational and Skill Training, Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) as well as Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).

The proposal became successful as the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the industrial Training Fund, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, sent his team to inspect various vocational sites in Osun state on the 13th of August, 2024.

This Strategic Partnership is in accordance with the vision of His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to reduce unemployment rate and promote the acquisition and utilisation of relevant skills for economic development in the state.