The Defence Headquarters has reintegrated 601 ex-Boko Haram terrorists including 14 foreign nationals from Cameroon, Chad and Niger into the society through their respective national and state authorities.
Major General Bamidele Shafa, Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, announced this on Saturday at the DRR Camp in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State, saying they graduated from the de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration (DRR) camp in Mallam Sidi, Gombe.
This comes days after some residents of Borno state kicked against the reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members in their communities.
The military in 2016 had launched Operation Safe Corridor, an initiative for the deradicalisation and rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram members.
According to Shafa, the graduands include 14 nationals from Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
Shafa said Operation Safe Corridor was aimed at giving hope to ex-terrorists, who willingly give up their arms to embrace peace.
He said, “On arrival at the camp, the clients went through documentation processes to obtain vital background information after which they were subjected to comprehensive medical screening to determine their health status.
“Their DNA samples were also collected while their biometrics were captured on national data using the National Identity Management Commission facilities for future references. The background information serves as guide for the experts; Local Treatment Team to properly place the clients for treatment therapies and vocational training. The LTT are specialised experts in various fields of deradicalisation and rehabilitation therapies drawn from the Nigeria Correctional Service.”
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