Few days after Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists massacred over 110 people in Borno State, the Nigeria Armed Forces wing in charge of rehabilitating repentant terrorists, Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), will next month reintegrate 603 of the “repentant terrorists” back to their communities.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General John Enenche, told journalists on Thursday in Abuja that the 603 have completed the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme.
Stating that the DRR programme, a Defence Headquarters led multi-agency programme under Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), had recorded tremendous success since inception in 2016, General Enenche noted that a total of 893 repentant terrorists have passed throught he programme.
Out of the amount, he said, 280 including two Chadians have successfully reintegrated back into the society through their respective national and State governments.
According to the Defence Spokesperson, “presently, there are 603 of them undergoing the DRR Programme and would be graduating by July 2020. The Operation is a success story as feedbacks from those reintegrated are positive. A particular one in Bama who learnt barbing as a vocation has successfully empowered four locals and is happily married with children,” he said.
Enenche added that the concept of OPSC was a unique non-kinetic operation aimed at giving hope to the ex-combatants who willingly gave up their arms to embrace peace and is guided by provisions of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws.
According to him, “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.”
The key implementation partners for the programme include United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), International Organization for Migration (IOM), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department For International Development (DFID). Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD). North-East Regional Initiative (NERI).
The scheme, General Enenche noted, had also enjoyed widespread collaboration and support of local and international NGOs.
He explained that the concept was an international best practice for conflict management backed by relevant laws with the concurrence of key stakeholders such as international organisations and MDAs among others.
General Enenche urged the public to disregard the misinformation about the programme, saying it was part of effort to end insurgency in the North East.
He clarified that the ongoing operations in Northeast and Northwest were aimed at curtailing the movement of terrorists and bandits across the country, stating that the military is proactive in dealing with the crisis in the country.