Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the North East are pushing back against a directive that would require them to work alongside former insurgents who have been reintegrated under the Borno State deradicalisation programme.

Troops who spoke on condition of anonymity say the move has caused serious concern among soldiers on the ground. They fear it could lead to intelligence leaks that would compromise ongoing operations against active insurgent groups.

According to the soldiers, some former Boko Haram fighters who renounced violence and pledged loyalty to the state have been attached to local security groups that support military missions. This is reportedly part of efforts by the Borno State government to show that its rehabilitation programme is working — a programme that has faced criticism from victims, the public, and some security personnel.

But frontline troops remain unconvinced.

“Many of us are uncomfortable with the arrangement because there have been cases in the past where information leaked and operations were compromised,” one soldier said. “Trust is a major issue.”

Another source said soldiers have been cautious around the former fighters because of fears they may still have links to active terrorist networks. In some cases, ex-insurgents are housed separately within military facilities because of these concerns.

“We don’t trust them completely. There have been too many incidents in the past,” the source said. “Yet now there is pressure for us to work closely with them during our missions.”

The soldiers pointed to repeated attacks on military commanders as evidence that sensitive information is still being leaked. “That should tell you there is a leak,” one source added. “Yet the government is asking us to trust these people and work with them. It won’t work.”

Rather than forcing collaboration with former fighters, the troops are urging the Federal Government to provide better equipment, improved intelligence support, and stronger welfare packages.

The concerns come weeks after the Borno State government reintegrated 720 former insurgents, along with 992 spouses and 2,050 children, under its “Borno Model” programme. Retired Brigadier General Abdullahi Ishaq, the governor’s special adviser on security, said the programme is based on forgiveness, rehabilitation, and community acceptance. Since it began in July 2021, over 350,000 individuals have left insurgent camps and surrendered, with 9,680 persons reintegrated in nine batches.

Participants undergo vocational training, counselling, religious and behavioural reorientation, and skills acquisition before returning to their communities.

Despite the numbers, critics continue to question whether former insurgents can truly be trusted and whether safeguards are strong enough to prevent a return to extremism. For the troops on the frontline, that question is not just political — it could be a matter of life and death