The name of Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, 63, has been mentioned several times on the media since he sponsored a bill seeking to establish an agency for repentant Boko Haram terrorists.

The Agency, when established, will take charge of organising special programmes aimed at rehabilitating the terrorists so that they can re-enter society and live normal lives.

Although opposing voices from Nigerians have been raised against the bill, Gaidam, who’s the immediate past governor of Yobe State, believes the terrorists are willing to repent only that they have not been given opportunity to do so.

On Monday, journalists asked the Senator, who is representing Yobe East Senatorial District, why he sponsored the bill and this is what he said as reported by Tribune Ng .

“There is no doubt that many members of the insurgents’ group have defected and many more are willing to repent given a window of opportunity and this is confirmed by many organisations including NGO’s that have unalloyed access to the Boko Haram.

“There is the need for a more strategic and comprehensive approach to entice those members of the group who, after realising the futility of the course they are pursuing have eventually decided to voluntarily lay down their arms and chose the path of peace. Hence, the need for the establishment of the National Agency for the Rehabilitation, Deradicalization and reintegration of repentant insurgents to accommodate the defectors.”