In a controversial move, the Borno State government has allegedly disbursed ₦18 billion in livelihood support to repentant Boko Haram members over recent years.
Critics are now questioning the decision at a time when security personnel and victims remain under-supported if this record, report is true or another scandal.
Breakdown of Funds
According to various outlets, the disbursements include:
- ₦7.4 billion allocated in 2025 for livelihoods of repentant ex-insurgents
- ₦3.4 billion spent in the 2024 fiscal year
- ₦2.175 billion and ₦503 million spent during 2023 and 2022 respectively.
In total, the cumulative expenditure on rehabilitating exceeds ₦13 billion, with additional allocations bringing the total to nearly ₦18 billion.
This level of spending has stirred strong criticism. Nigerian police officers reportedly plan protests over poor wages, inadequate welfare support, and a controversial pension scheme concurrently while former Boko Haram members receive significant financial aid.
Their grievances highlight a stark imbalance: security forces demanding funds for frontline service, while insurgents-turned-civilians continue to receive substantial state support.
The funds were allocated under Borno’s implementation of the Sulhu rehabilitation and reintegration program, which aims to deradicalize and resettle repentant fighters. However, human rights advocates warn that the program operates with limited transparency, lacks accountability mechanisms like truth-telling or reparations, and may inadvertently encourage impunity
