In five years, HumAngle has become a powerhouse for truth seekers, journalists, and storytellers who dare to ask the hard questions.
As we mark our anniversary, here is how far we have come and how far we are willing to go.
#HumAngleAt5
Officials say that former insurgents are helping in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. But for people who suffered Boko Haram’s violence, seeing these men return as state allies brings back painful memories.
What are the benefits and risks? @A_Salkida spoke to defectors, soldiers, and experts.
https://t.co/dCoGIy2XgI
When the Nigerian government announced the rehabilitation of terrorists, it didn't just shock the nation; families who still suffer the consequences of the insurgency expressed concerns.
But can a terrorist truly change sides and fight against an ideology they once fought for?
@A_Salkida spoke with all sides involved.
Stay tuned. Out tomorrow.
Terrorists stormed an off-campus hostel in Zamfara, northwestern Nigeria, today, and abducted at least six students from the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda.
Many students had moved into off-campus housing precisely for safety.
https://t.co/9xxVMLvI9V
Thank you, @HumAngle_, for deleting and reframing your initial tweet.
We also look forward to your forthcoming investigation into Nigeria’s use of “repentant terrorists” in counterterrorism operations. However, we urge you to get the facts right and clearly distinguish between the Borno Model, other state-led DRR programmes, and Operation SAFE CORRIDOR (OPSC). More importantly, where allegations are made regarding the use of “repentant terrorists” in counterterrorism operations, kindly state clearly which programme or model is involved.
Having gone through all the reports attached to your tweet, it is noteworthy that none of the individuals referenced passed through Operation SAFE CORRIDOR. The experiences described, the rehabilitation processes highlighted, and the DRR locations mentioned are not part of OPSC.
For example, in one of the reports, you stated that an ex-terrorist was handed over to an official of the Borno Model, yet later referenced payments of ₦3,000 under OPSC. You also mentioned rehabilitation at Hajj Camp, which you know is not OPSC. The OPSC DRR camp is located in Gombe.
These distinctions are not mere technicalities. Inaccurate reporting on such a sensitive issue misleads the public, undermines institutional credibility, and contributes to the stigmatization of individuals who have passed through lawful rehabilitation and reintegration processes. Public discourse is best served when facts are presented accurately and programmes are assessed on the basis of what they actually do, rather than being conflated with entirely different initiatives.
In times of conflict and crisis, accurate reporting becomes a lifeline.
Help us keep you informed with facts you can trust.
Donate to HumAngle here: https://t.co/yO6ebTk7LN
Are schools in Nigeria safe?
Under the Safe School Initiative, a "safe school" means perimeter fencing, trained security personnel, alarm systems, CCTV cameras, rapid-response linkages to security forces, and emergency-trained school committees.
But the reality is far different. Here is how: https://t.co/laojzSPfls
Between the struggles of reintegration, poverty, and fighting on the other side of the war, exiting the terror group has also placed a target on their back, and defectors are being tracked and assassinated.
https://t.co/JHCW0Y8sDl
This Thursday, HumAngle is releasing an investigation into Nigeria’s use of “repentant terrorists” in counterterrorism operations.
Until then, here are some of our reporting on Nigeria’s rehabilitation programmes for defectors and their attempts at reintegration.
For others like Manzir Lawan, who surrendered and joined the programme, the struggle to reintegrate into society persists, and they have been repurposed for military-backed operations against their former comrades.
https://t.co/vi3gKxcP6Y
The major increase in femicide cases in Cameroon is further aggravated by an alarming increase in violent crimes against minors, including rape, murder, and severe physical abuse.
https://t.co/bCzrBfCIjF
The Borno Model, a state-led DDRR program for former terrorists, has deradicalised former terrorists and reintegrated them into society. Some of them say they now fight side by side with the army.
Can former terrorists help in the fight against terrorism?
Authorities have said that former terrorists help in the fight against terrorism.
How does this work, and has their assistance changed anything so far?
In our soon-to-be-released investigation, @A_Salkida speaks with all sides involved.
OUT THURSDAY
For challenging the imperial taxation and the aristocratic order of the Sokoto Caliphate, Satiru, a small community in Sokoto, northwestern Nigeria, housing poor clerics and fugitive slaves, was obliterated in 1906.
We go back in time and show how Nigeria inherited both the method and the silence.
https://t.co/9PXi7OeSla