The National Counter Terrorism Centre, under the Office of the National Security Advisor, has revealed that the Nigerian government has successfully reintegrated at least 5,000 repentant Boko Haram fighters back into society.
These individuals were part of the deradicalisation programme known as Operation Safe Corridor, which aims to rehabilitate and reintegrate former combatants who have renounced violence.
Amb. Mairo Musa Abbas, Head of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), provided these details during a session at the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum. The second-day session, held as part of the ongoing discussions on regional security, addressed the challenges of managing the exit of Boko Haram fighters from their violent lifestyle.
Amb. Abbas noted that since completing the six-month deradicalisation programme, none of the ex-combatants have returned to the battlefield. She added that the former fighters, after their rehabilitation, have been reunited with their families and are now making use of skills they acquired during their time in the programme to support themselves in their local communities.
“Under Operation Safe Corridor programme, we have deradicalised over 5,000 ex-combatants of Boko Haram and reunited them with their families,” Amb. Abbas said. “They are using the skills they have acquired in the six months of deradicalisation programme in the camp, to sustain themselves within the communities.”
The programme is supported by various organizations, including the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which has established monitoring systems in all of Nigeria’s 774 local governments. In addition, traditional and religious leaders play a role in ensuring the smooth reintegration of former fighters, with efforts focused on tracking their progress and ensuring they remain integrated into society.
Amb. Abbas also highlighted the success of the “Borno Model,” a state-led strategy aimed at reintegrating individuals who had been part of extremist groups like Boko Haram. This model, she explained, has proven effective in reuniting many repented fighters with their families, complementing the federal government’s efforts to promote peace and stability.
She urged the governors of the Lake Chad region to align their strategies and work together towards a unified approach in tackling extremism and promoting reintegration across the region.
