A repentant Boko Haram member working alongside personnel of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) has allegedly shot dead a respected businessman, Alhaji Jidda Muhammad, in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, reigniting fierce public anger over the government’s deradicalization and reintegration policy.
According to eyewitness accounts, the horrifying incident occurred on Saturday, October 5, 2025, when the suspect — a self-proclaimed “retired” Boko Haram fighter — stopped the victim along the Gomboru Ngala–Maiduguri road and demanded a meagre ₦1,000. When the businessman refused, the assailant reportedly opened fire with an AK-47 rifle, killing him on the spot.
The tragic killing has sent shockwaves across the North-East, where many citizens have long expressed concerns over the decision to reintegrate ex-insurgents into communities still traumatized by years of terrorism and bloodshed.
A close friend of the deceased, Asharif Dan Borno, confirmed the incident in a heart-wrenching Facebook post, condemning what he described as a collapse of justice and leadership.
> “Today, I share devastating news with a heavy heart. My dear friend, Alhaji Jidda Muhammad, was brutally murdered by a retired Boko Haram member near Mafa,” he wrote.
“He was returning from Gomboru Ngala to Maiduguri when they stopped him, demanded ₦1,000, and—upon his refusal—shot him. This wasn’t just a robbery; it was a cold-blooded execution. How did we get here? How can known terrorists operate unchecked? Why is leadership silent while our people are slaughtered?”
Residents of Mafa and surrounding communities have described the killing as a grim reflection of the dangers posed by the ill-managed rehabilitation of former insurgents, many of whom are accused of returning to criminal activities under the guise of repentance.
Security agencies are yet to release an official statement on the incident, but local leaders are calling for immediate investigation, arrest of the perpetrator, and a total overhaul of the deradicalization programme, which they say has now become “a pipeline for recycled terror.”
EDITORIAL NOTE:
The cold-blooded murder of Alhaji Jidda Muhammad is more than an isolated crime — it is a symptom of a deeply flawed system. The government’s continued silence in the face of such atrocities emboldens killers and demoralizes citizens who already live in fear. If “repentance” is to mean anything, it must come with accountability, justice, and a firm assurance that those who once terrorized the nation will never again walk free to spill innocent blood.
Nigeria stands at a crossroads between rehabilitation and recklessness — and the choice, ultimately, will determine whether peace in the North-East remains a dream or becomes a reality.
PIONEER NEWS 