A Borno State indigene, Enoch Yohanna, has alleged that repentant Boko Haram members are being paid up to N3 million and placed on a monthly stipend of N50,000 after undergoing rehabilitation under the Federal Government’s deradicalisation programme.

Yohanna made the allegation during a recent public function, where he expressed anger over what he described as government support for former insurgents despite the suffering of victims of terrorism.

According to him, some former Boko Haram fighters who surrendered under the Operation Safe Corridor initiative receive financial support after completing rehabilitation programmes.

“They gave these repentant Boko Haram members a payoff of N3 million and N50,000 monthly stipend,” he alleged.

Yohanna, whose father was reportedly killed by insurgents, said he found it painful that individuals accused of carrying out killings and abductions were allegedly benefiting from public funds.

He also claimed that the rehabilitation process involved questioning former fighters about the number of people they had killed and the type of ammunition they used while in the insurgent group.

The Federal Government launched Operation Safe Corridor in 2016 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The programme was designed to provide a non-violent exit route for “low-risk” and “repentant” Boko Haram members through a process of deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration.

Authorities have repeatedly defended the initiative as part of efforts to end insurgency in the North-East and encourage defections from terrorist groups.

However, the programme has continued to generate criticism from some victims of insurgent attacks and members of the public, who argue that affected communities deserve greater support and justice.