A community based NGO, Allamin Foundation, has commenced training for Islamic Clerics/Psychologists involved in deradicalisation of repentant insurgents to enhance their skills.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training, supported by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), drew clerics from Maiduguri Metropolitan, Jere, Konduga and Mafa Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the flag-off of the training on Sunday in Maiduguri, the Director of the foundation, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, said after the training, the clerics/psychologists were expected to do more as champions of peace.
Allamin said that the training would focus on the use of Holy Quran, Hadith and Islamic history to present superior arguments to the insurgents on how they misinterpret the Qur’an and teachings of Islam “which never supported violence and shedding of blood.”
Allamin noted that the foundation had so far deradicalised 120 Boko Haram women that continued to play a vital role in convincing others to also repent from the ideology.
“Borno Government under Gov. Babagana Zulum has done its best by facilitating mass surrender, while the military also demobilised them with the society accepting them.
“It’s now a task for Islamic scholars to engage them one-on-one in addressing their misconceptions about Islam and to provide solutions to other challenges arising after many years of the insurgency,” Allamin said.
The facilitator of the training, Shiekh Ali Mustapha, who spoke on “Islam as a Religion of Peace”, showed how Islam kicked against forceful conversation of anyone to Islam.
He pointed out that the concept of jihad has to do with self defence, while accepting Islam has to be a “personal conviction and believe in the region as Qur’an specifically says: ‘There is no comulsion in religion’.”
He cited Islamic history that showed how the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) was able to attract people to Islam based on his kindness and tolerance, adding that no war took place when the people of the historic Borno Empire embraced Islam.
A cross section of the male and female clerics undergoing the training, describe it as critical and apt, assuring that it would go a long way in enhancing their engagements with their targeted clients.
Babagana Shettima and Falmata Abdulkadir, said the training was highly educative, innovative and persuasive. (NAN)
