Borno partners Allamin Foundation to rebuild peace in Bama, former Boko Haram stronghold

By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –

In a significant step toward restoring peace and stability, the Borno State Government has pledged its full support to the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development (ALFOPED) for a transformative peace-building, reconciliation, and reintegration project in Bama Local Government Area, once a stronghold of Boko Haram insurgents.

The announcement was made on Thursday during an advocacy visit by the foundation to the Borno State Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Professor Mohammed Tar, at the Musa Usman State Secretariat Complex in Maiduguri.

Represented by Permanent Secretary Alhaji Aminu Chawalma, the commissioner expressed the government’s commitment to collaborating with ALFOPED on critical aspects of the project, including information dissemination and security coordination.

“Peace is the cornerstone of our efforts in the post-insurgency era to rebuild Borno and restore its legacy as the home of peace,” Tar stated.

He praised ALFOPED’s role as a locally rooted organization, noting, “It is heartening to have you beside us as a vital peace-building apparatus, serving as the voice for the voiceless—orphans, widows, detained youths, and girls who are innocent victims of the insurgency.”

Tar commended ALFOPED’s expertise and dedication to peace-building, reintegration of surrendered insurgents, and rehabilitation of Boko Haram victims.

He also congratulated the foundation for securing formal approval from Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to execute the project in Bama, a region devastated by years of insurgent violence.

“Your work aligns seamlessly with our Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Reintegration (RRR) programme, which aims to rebuild communities and restore normalcy,” Chawalma added on behalf of the commissioner.

The Executive Director if the foundation, led the delegation and highlighted the foundation’s extensive experience in similar initiatives, supported by partners like the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Nigeria Security and Regional Resilience (NiSRR) Programme.

“This project in Bama is our latest effort to bring psychosocial support, economic empowerment, and community dialogue to conflict-affected areas,” Hamsatu said.

She emphasized the foundation’s mandate to empower women, advocate for human rights, and foster grassroots peace-building, noting that ALFOPED currently supports over 42,000 victims and survivors across 13 network groups in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere, Konduga, and Mafa.

Bama, once a vibrant commercial and cultural hub, was ravaged during the height of Boko Haram’s insurgency, with widespread destruction of homes, schools, farmlands, and livelihoods. The liberation of the town by the Nigerian military marked the beginning of its recovery, and ALFOPED’s intervention aims to accelerate this progress.

“With this approval, Bama’s residents can look forward to renewed hope through initiatives that promote sustainable peace and healing,” Hamsatu affirmed.

The advocacy visit to the Ministry of Local Government and Emirates Affairs signals the foundation’s broader plan to expand its peace-building and humanitarian efforts across Borno State, addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, including “invisible children” born in captivity and individuals undergoing de-radicalization.

As Borno continues its journey toward recovery, this partnership marks a beacon of hope for lasting peace and reconciliation in one of Nigeria’s most affected regions.