Repentant Boko Haram Fighters Protest Hunger, Block Borno Highway

Repentant Boko Haram members undergoing rehabilitation and reintegration at the Hajj Camp along the Maiduguri-Damaturu expressway in Borno State staged a protest on Thursday, blocking the major road in protest against hunger and hardship in the camp.

Eyewitnesses reported that the ex-fighters occupied the road at around 7:30 a.m. before authorities intervened, leading to their return to the camp.

“I passed by this morning and saw people gathered outside the camp. It was later I found out that they were repentant Boko Haram members lamenting hunger,” Abubakar Mujahid, a local, told reporters.

Another eyewitness, Hajara Aminu, noted that although she did not personally see the protesters, she heard from her brother about the commotion. “There was a lot of noise coming from the camp area. I saw police convoys and other security officials. We later learned that the Deputy Governor came to address them, which helped to calm the situation.”

A camp official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident, adding that the situation had been brought under control.

“The agitation over hunger in the camp started yesterday, but nobody expected the protest that occurred this morning,” the official said. “Thankfully, the intervention of the DSS, the Information Commissioner, and the Deputy Governor helped address their concerns, particularly regarding food and allowances.”