DHQ Set to Reintegrates Over 606 Ex-Boko Haram Members
- By Lazarus Zakaa, AbujaThe Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said, it’s has concluded plans to transfer over 606 repented Boko Haram members to their respective National and State Authority for Reintegration.
The Chief of Defence staff General Abayomi Olonisakin disclosed this during a stakeholders meeting meant to work out modalities for transferring and rehabilitating the ex terrorists.
Represented by Air vice Marshal Nurudeen Balogun the Chief of Policy and Plans Defense Headquarters, CDS said during the establishment of OPERATION SAFE CORRIDOR, over 2,000 low profile Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West African Province members have surrendered their arms out of which about 1,000 have been processed by operation safe corridor.
The Defence chief also denies allegation that the military is recruiting ex-Boko Haram terrorist.
According to him, “I wish to categorically refute the claim and assure Nigerians that, none of the rehabilitated Nigerian from OPERATION SAFE CORRIDOR De-radicalization, Rehabilitated and Reintegration has been recruited into the Nigerian military or any sister security agencies as stringent measures have been put in place to prevent such from happening.”
On his part the coordinator OPERATION SAFE CORRIDOR Maj Gen BM Shafa said “following approval from appropriate authority, 25 Nigerian repented Boko Haram also referred to as the (client) including 14 male adults, 3 female adults and 8 children who voluntarily laid down their arms in Niger Republic and rehabilitated by the authorities of the country were repatriated on 26 February 2020 and are presently quartered at the Bulumkutu Rehabilitation Center for profiling and administration of Oath of allegiance before they are reintegrated by the state government.”
The defence headquarters also said that the OPERATION SAFE CORRIDOR is not a Military Operation as is being insinuated in some quarters.
