Nigerian troops engaged in counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram in the North-East have again urged military authorities and government officials at all levels to discontinue the integration of so-called repentant insurgents into security operations, warning that the policy has led to intelligence leaks and deadly attacks on soldiers.
A frontline military source told SaharaReporters that troops have renewed their appeals to senior commanders, expressing deep concern that the continued absorption of former Boko Haram fighters is severely undermining operational security.
According to the source, trust has completely broken down within several camps. “In our bases now, we don’t trust these former Boko Haram members at all,” the soldier said, adding that troops have deliberately distanced themselves from the repentant fighters, including assigning them separate sleeping areas.
The source revealed that recent investigations uncovered repeated leaks of military movements and operational plans to Boko Haram, allegedly traced to the so-called repentant insurgents. “Our operations and movements are being exposed to the enemy, and no one else could be responsible except these repentant terrorists,” the soldier stated.
Troops, he said, believe they are being betrayed from within, prompting urgent calls on top military leadership to stop compelling soldiers to work alongside individuals they no longer trust.
The soldier further linked several recent attacks on military formations to compromised operational intelligence, alleging that sensitive strategic details were passed directly to Boko Haram by former insurgents now embedded with the troops. “Most of the recent attacks, including those recently reported, happened because our strategies were leaked by these repentant terrorists,” he said.
Last week, at least nine Nigerian soldiers were confirmed dead after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near Gubio in Borno State. A senior military source disclosed that investigations confirmed the explosives were planted by Boko Haram fighters.
According to the source, the soldiers had departed Maiduguri and stopped overnight at a military camp along the route, planning to continue their journey the following day when the explosion occurred.
Opposition to the integration of repentant insurgents is not new. In October 2025, soldiers deployed across several bases in the North-East accused government-supported repentant Boko Haram members of consistently leaking sensitive information on troop movements, positions, weapons, and daily routines to their former commanders.
Serving personnel described the policy as a “fatal error” that continues to claim the lives of soldiers on the frontlines. One soldier disclosed that before most attacks, Boko Haram fighters already possess detailed knowledge of military deployments.
“Before any attack, they already know our numbers, our weapons, and how we operate,” the soldier said in an earlier interview. “The repentant fighters tell them everything.”
He added that the leaks extend to highly sensitive operational routines, including guard deployment at entry points, weapon storage locations, armoury positions, and daily schedules such as the evening ‘stand-to’ period when troops return to camp to monitor enemy movements.
The source further alleged that logistical information is also compromised, with details about food storage and supply schedules routinely passed to Boko Haram, enabling insurgents to seize supplies during attacks.
According to the soldier, without insider intelligence from these repentant elements, many Boko Haram assaults would likely fail. “Once they know our strength, timing, and routine, they strike accurately,” he said.
These allegations have heightened tensions within the Nigerian Army, as troops increasingly describe the arrangement with former insurgents as a dangerous and risky partnership that continues to endanger lives on the battlefield.