..As 603 Set To Finish Rehabilitation Exercise
Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Defence Headquarters has announced the reintegration of 280 ex Boko Haram terrorists including two Chadians back into the society through their respective national and state authorities.
Director Defence Media Organization Major General John Enenche during a press briefing said operation safe corridor established in 2016, has admitted a total of 893 ex Boko Haram fighters. He said a total of 603 are currently undergoing training at the camp would soon graduate.
Enenche while noting that Deradicalization is the first stage of the program after medical screening including the taking of DNA sample is conducted, listed other processes before admitting the candidates into the training to include psychotherapy, psycho-spiritual counseling, drug abuse intervention, art therapy, sports/recreation, and introduction to western education to counter the BHT ideology.
He described the Operation a success story, saying that feedbacks from those reintegrated are positive. He specifically pointed to a particular case in Bama Borno state where an ex figure who learnt barbing as a vocation has successfully empowered four locals and is happily married with children.
Enenche used the opportunity to give an update on operation safe corridor.
He said: “The concept of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) is that of a unique non-kinetic operation aimed at giving hope to ex-combatants who willingly give up their arms to embrace peace. It is a Defence Headquarters (DHQ)-led multi-agency humanitarian effort based on De-radicalization, Rehabilitation, and Re-Integration (DRR) of ex-combatant Boko Haram members that willingly surrender, which was established in September 2015 and became operational in 2016.
“Operation SAFE CORRIDOR (OPSC) is guided by among other provisions such as International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws. It is being administered by 468 staff drawn from 17 organizations including the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), Law Enforcement and Security Agencies, other Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) including North East Development Commission (NEDC) as well as locals from Gombe, where the DRR camp is located. The scheme also enjoys widespread collaboration and support of local and international NGOs.
He said ,” rintegration ect of the DRR programme is the most delicate and longest phase that lasts beyond the camp. It entails transitional justice initiative involving family linkage with the assistance of IOM and UNICEF among others. Administration of Oath of Allegiance is also conducted at this stage. The panel is headed by a judge of the Federal High Court with members drawn for relevant agencies.
“Gleaning from the concept and conduct of Operation SAFE CORRIDOR, it is not a process of assembling raw repentant ex-combatants to inject back into the society by the Military. Rather, it is an international best practice for conflict management backed by relevant laws with the concurrence of key stakeholders such as international organizations and MDAs among others”.