Military continues de-radicalisation of ex-Boko Haram terrorists, 559 undergo rehab

The Military High Command says at least 559 repentant Boko Haram members are currently enrolled in the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme, handled by Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), in Gombe State.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, disclosed this at Defence headquarters, Abuja, during the Stakeholders’ Meeting of OPSC.

Irabor, who was represented at the meeting by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, dismissed recurring reports that some of the over 1,000 rehabilitated former terrorist fighters have been recruited into the Nigerian military.

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM observed that there have been concerns over alleged recruitment of rehabilitated terrorists into the military and paramilitary agencies but the military has consistently described the concerns as “unfounded”, saying there are stringent safeguards to prevent such.

The military chief maintained that none of such ex-fighters would as well be recruited into any of the sister security services in the country.

According to him, OPSC had improved the programme’s principles, practices and procedures over the years, making the initiative a model that had been replicated in all the Lake Chad Basin countries.

He said, “The DRR Programme consists of psychological humanitarian treatments that reassure and provide alternatives to low-profile combatants through psycho-social/psycho-spiritual therapies, recreations, vocational training, and introductory western education, thereby countering BHT/ISWAP ideologies and reducing their recruitment drive while depleting the critical mass of their fighting force.

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“The programme has so far graduated over 1,000 clients including 16 foreign nationals, who have been successfully reintegrated by their national and state governments. A total of 559 new clients are currently going through the DRR Program at the DRR Camp in Gombe State.”

Irabor noted that the approaches, practices, procedures, strategies, and tactics of the military in its counter-insurgency operation had continued to evolve, to effectively tackle the amorphous nature of the threat.

According to him, the initial response was a single service operation that was limited to only the formations and units based in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States.

“However, as time passed, several task forces were formed, eventually leading to the formation of a Theatre Command with several components including a Naval Task Force and an Aviation Task Force to weaken the insurgents.

“In furtherance of this objective, we are committed to forging stronger synergy between the Services and other security agencies. All of these efforts have re-energised the fight against the insurgents, and the AFN has continuously made progress towards ending the war in favour of the Nigerian government,” the CDS said.

On his part, the Coordinator of OPSC, Brig.-Gen. Joseph Maina, reiterated that the operation began in September 2015 to encourage willing and repentant Boko Haram members to surrender and go through a well-structured DRR programme.