Borno State government has begun the process of reintegrating 230 repentant terrorists into the communities following their months of deradicalisation, rehabilitation and vocational training.
Their reintegration is contained in a release by the Directorate of Information,
Ministry of Information and Internal Security, which was made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Maiduguri.
The directorate said the Borno State government has once again demonstrated its commitment to peacebuilding and reintegration by honouring the graduation ceremony of Batches 6 and 7 of the 2024 repentant clients.
“The event took place at the Deradicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) Camp of Operation Safe Corridor, located in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, Gombe State,” the release said.
It added that a total of 390 militants who previously engaged in violent insurgency surrendered to the Nigerian Army and enrolled in the DRR programme.
Continuing, it said,” After months of deradicalization, rehabilitation, and vocational training, these clients graduated and are now set to be reintegrated into society through the Borno State Governor’s faculty for reception and community transition.
“The Borno State government was represented by the Commissioner of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Zuwaira Gambo who received the 230 ‘processed’ repentant clients who are indigenes of Borno State, all of whom expressed sincere regrets for their past involvement with Boko Haram Insurgency albeit mostly under duress/abductions, and pledged to embrace peaceful and productive lives.
he graduation ceremony witnessed the presence of dignitaries and representatives from various levels of government and security agencies. These included officials from the Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Osun Akwa Ibom, Bauchi and Kogi State Governments; representatives of the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, and Chief of Air Staff; as well as the Inspector General of Police, National Security Adviser, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Department of State Services (DSS), North East Development Commission, Federal Ministry of Justice National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), among others.
In his welcome address, the coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General Y. Ali, commended the collaborative effort of all stakeholders in making the programme a success. He emphasized the importance of continued support to ensure peaceful reintegration.
The commandant of the DRR Camp, Colonel A.A. Johnson, gave an overview of the six-month rehabilitation programme. He highlighted components such as religious reorientation, vocational training, psychological counselling, and civic education that were provided to the clients.
In her remarks, Mrs Zuwaira Gambo who represented the governor of Borno State praised the Federal Government and the Nigerian Armed Forces for their dedication to restoring peace and rebuilding lives. She reaffirmed the commitment of Borno State, under the leadership of Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, to supporting the reintegration process and ensuring that all repented individuals are accepted back into their communities.
During the ceremony, the repentant clients took an oath of allegiance to Nigeria, pledging loyalty and commitment to peaceful coexistence. The clients expressed deep gratitude to the Federal Government, Operation Safe Corridor, and the Borno State Government for giving them a second chance to pledge loyalty to Nigeria.
This graduation marks another milestone in the ongoing efforts to secure lasting peace and promote rehabilitation, forgiveness, and reintegration in the Northeast region and beyond.
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