A total of 22 former members of Boko Haram and ISWAP have successfully completed the Federal Government’s de-radicalization and rehabilitation program. The graduation ceremony took place on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Operation Safe Corridor, Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State. The initiative, initiated in 2016, encourages members of insurgent and terrorist groups to surrender.
After pledging allegiance to the Nigerian state, the graduates were awarded certificates and provided with starter packs to support their journey toward self-reliance. Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa, represented by Major General Mohammed Ahmed, clarified misconceptions about the operation and highlighted plans to overhaul the processes. He emphasized that the operation adopts a deliberate non-kinetic approach to address security challenges in the region.
“The operation is a major arm of the military’s non-kinetic offensive against insecurity in the North-East region. None of the graduates were linked to terrorism after their graduation. It will be unfortunate for them to be stigmatised and discriminated,” Musa stated.
Speaking further, Musa explained that since Operation Safe Corridor began operating, it has trained and reintegrated a total of 2,168 persons into the society.
“I am not, however, unaware that many citizens of this country have expressed fears that Operation Safe Corridor is a mere scheme that recircles terrorists and insurgence into society; others said that graduates of the scheme are covertly recruited into the forces of Nigeria, like the Nigerian police, and other government security agencies arising from such insinuations mostly perpetrators by mischief makers and misguided patriots.
“The armed forces under my watch will not allow such unfounded imagination to happen,” he added.
He also refuted allegations that the country has been recruiting those with insurgency links into security agencies.
“Accordingly, my disposition in the fight against terrorism and insurgency are enough to convince you that I can’t watch and allow confirmed terrorists, insurgents or perpetrators of other criminals acts who are enemies of our beloveth nation to be recruited into any any of the security agencies in the country under any guise or whatsoever.”
Also, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, who was represented by Deputy Governor Dr Manassah Jatau, demanded that those de-radicalised should justify the fresh opportunity granted to them by becoming good citizens and advocates of peace.
He said security is too serious to be neglected entirely by operatives.
Speaking on behalf of other de-radicalised members, Muhammad Alkali lauded President Bola Tinubu for giving them a second chance.
“Today is a historic day in our lives to witness this graduation. We thank the president. On behalf of my colleagues, we promise to be good citizens, to use what we learnt,” Alkali stated.
