A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Peace Ambassador Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Empowerment, has collaborated with the Borno State Government and the British Council (BC) to promote peace and reconciliation in Maiduguri.

The collaboration culminated in a football tournament, which was held on Wednesday for members of the host community and repentant Boko Haram insurgents.

The Kukawa team of the repentant Boko Haram insurgents defeated the Kaleri team two goals to one and won the trophy in a bid to promote peace building and coexistence in Borno State.

According to the Executive Director (PAHCE), Ahmed Shehu noted that eight teams, both from the communities and the repentant Boko Haram participants, participated in the tournament that lasted for two weeks.

“At the early stage, eight teams, both from the community and the repentant Boko Haram, participated in the tournament, and the Kukawa team of the repentant Boko Haram emerged. This is one of our efforts to promote peace and tranquillity in Borno State.

“Without peace there will be no development, so peace is paramount, and we must strive to ensure we have lasting peace in the state, Shehu said.

Speaking before the presentation of the trophy, the Borno state commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, said,

”This tournament is an indication that the community has accepted our brothers, the repentant Boko Haram, back into society.”.

The commissioner, who was represented by the director in the ministry, Babagana Mustapha, thanked the Peace Ambassador Centre and the British county for the support and assured the ministry’s continued support to bring lasting peace to the state.

Throughout the time of this tournament, we have not had any problem; this shows that the community has agreed to accept our brothers who lay down their arms, and by the grace of God, lasting peace will return to our state,” Shehu said.

Also speaking in an interview, the captain of the repentant Boko Haram Kukawa football team, Mallam Mamman, thanked the organisers of the tournament, stressing that they really enjoyed every moment of the tournament.

”For the last two weeks we played successfully, and nobody insulted or harassed us; this shows we have been accepted back into society. I am calling for more of such tournaments. We, equally, promise to be law-abiding citizens,” he said.

Mamman said, ”I am calling on our brothers that are still there in the bush to come out and embrace peace. You can see we have been accepted by the society; they should also come for us to have lasting peace.

The tournament was funded by the British Council, supported by the Borno State government, and implemented by the Centre for Peace, Humanitarian Aid, and Empowerment.