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| Victims of Boko Haram at Borno IDP camp used to illustrate the story [Photo Credit: The Guardian Nigeria] |
According to a Borno survey on transitional justice for insurgency victims, the majority of Boko Haram victims want compensation and an apology.
The Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development conducted the survey on stakeholders' perceptions of priorities for the implementation of transitional justice in the North-East with funding from UK Aid.
A consultant named Lawan Gana said that the victims requested compensation be given to individuals who lost their source of livelihood when he delivered the survey report on Tuesday in Maiduguri.
According to transitional justice, they also asked for "real healing and reconciliation," he stated.
Mr Gana lists them as an apology, offering victims programmes for economic empowerment, as well as access to healthcare and education for their kids.
He said the survey involved 446 victims from four LGAs of Maiduguri Metropolitan, Dikwa, Gwoza and Bama.
Mr Gana pointed out that the victims also wanted the government to play the lead in the reconciliation process, which should involve other stakeholders like security and religious leaders.
He said that the survey recommended among others the establishment of a strengthened community accountability programme for transitional justice.
It also recommended the development of an exclusive transitional justice policy for Borno and an open declaration by ex-combatants to accept transitional justice.
In her remarks, Hamsatu Allamin, Executive Director of the foundation, said the brief presentation of the findings on transitional justice to stakeholders was to give them the opportunity to make observations where necessary.
Ms Allamin noted that during the survey almost everyone was claiming to be victims, including some of the insurgents.
She said one of the repentant Boko-Haram members, claimed that he was a victim because Customs officers allegedly seized his trailer loaded with goods and failed to get it released even after spending a lot of money.
“He said that when he heard that there is a group (Boko-Haram) fighting injustice he decided to join them,” Ms Allamin said.
She observed that such a complex situation would be best addressed through transitional justice.
Transitional justice covers the full range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempt to address the legacy of large-scale past conflict, repression, violations and abuses.
It is meant to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation, as well as provide recognition to victims, enhance the trust of individuals in State institutions, reinforce respect for human rights and promote the rule of law.
The processes may include both judicial and non-judicial mechanisms, including truth-seeking, prosecution, reparation, and various measures to ensure reconciliation and prevent the recurrence of new violations.
(NAN)