The “Borno Homegrown Model,” a state-led initiative to counter violent extremism, is demonstrating significant effectiveness in weakening the ideology of Boko Haram, according to security officials.Retired Brig.-Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq, Special Adviser on Security to Governor Babagana Zulum, disclosed this during the ongoing National Summit on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Abuja on Saturday. The summit’s theme is “The Evolving Landscape of Violent Extremism: Emerging Issues in Niger and the Sahel.”Ishaq explained that the model integrates disarmament, demobilization, and de-radicalization with robust, community-driven counter-narratives. A key strategy involves using Islamic scholars, mothers of fighters, and even repentant insurgents to challenge extremist ideologies.”For example, when we tell them the paradise of a child lies at the footstep of the mother, many who abandoned their mothers for 15 years are shaken. It compels them to reconsider their path,” he stated.The security adviser highlighted that testimonies from surrendered fighters have been particularly impactful, revealing what they perceive as divine punishment. He cited the rapid decomposition of dead fighters’ bodies as a stark revelation that has convinced many to abandon the group.So far, the program has facilitated the surrender of over 300,000 fighters and their family members, with many being reintegrated into society through vocational training in farming and small businesses.Addressing concerns about recidivism, Ishaq dismissed fears of a mass return to insurgency as exaggerated. He stated that after surrendering and taking an oath on the Holy Qur’an, those who attempted to rejoin terrorist groups were either killed or returned with valuable intelligence.However, he acknowledged that some senior leaders remain active, sustained by a “war economy” involving profiteers who supply them with essentials and by foreign actors with an interest in prolonging the conflict.Ishaq urged communities to continue supporting security forces with timely information while safeguarding its confidentiality. He emphasized that leveraging family influence, particularly from mothers, remains the most powerful tool in persuading hardened fighters to surrender.The “Borno Homegrown Model,” introduced in 2021, is a community-driven program that employs dialogue and media campaigns to encourage militants to lay down their arms.