2,167 Repentant Boko Haram Terrorists Graduate From DRR Programme

• Since the inception of Nigeria’s Operation Safe Corridor program, over 2,000 repentant Boko Haram terrorists have graduated from the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration program.

• The clients were exposed to vocational training such as carpentry, farming, tailoring, and welding.

• The initiative has received international recognition and has reduced stigmatisation in communities.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that no fewer than 2,167 repentant Boko Haram terrorists, comprising Nigerian and foreign citizens, have reportedly graduated from Operation Safe Corridor’s (OPSC) Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) programme, an initiative of the Federal Government.

Details of their graduation from the scheme were disclosed on Friday by the Assistant Director of Planning, Research and Strategy, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Audu Ayuba.

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Speaking at the capacity-building workshop for staff members of the agency, which is targetted at Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), and Disengagement, Disassociation, Reintegration, and Reconciliation (DDRR), Ayuba, who presented a paper titled, “Overview of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC)”, said that out of the 2,167 trainees, 2,140 were Nigerians and 27 foreigners from Cameroun, Chad, and Niger.

He explained that since the inception of the OPSC DRR programme, 2,167 clients have graduated, comprising 2,140 Nigerians and 27 foreigners (Cameroun, Chad, and Niger).

“They were successfully handed over to their national and state authorities for reintegration. The programme was accepted by the state governments, community leaders and people of the Northeast.

“This was achieved due to continuous community sensitisation visits to Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states by the OPSC with the help of technical partners and visits by the state delegates to the DRR camp to see their indigenes.

“There is increased support from development partners and NGOs, both national and international partners such as International Organisation for Migration, the Centre for Democracy and Development, the United Nations Children’s Fund, Swiss Embassy, etc.,’ Ayuba noted.

The NOA director said that more of the clients had been accepted in their communities and the level of stigmatisation had reduced due to the strategic communication on DDRR, PCVE and OPSC carried out by the stakeholders.

He added that there is an increase in the number of new admissions for the DRR programme.

“More recently, more than 100,000 Boko Haram fighters and their families have surrendered to the Borno Government due to a peace dialogue initiative with the insurgents.

“The DRR camp graduated 559 clients on March 25, 2023.

“There has been the construction of more hostel accommodation with a capacity for 1,500 clients, the programme has also received international recognition as witnessed by the visits of delegations from Cameroun, Chad, Niger and some foreign institutions to study it.

“Furthermore, the United Nation’s Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, visited the DRR camp in Gombe on 30 June 2021,’’ Ayuba said.

Ayuba said that the clients were exposed to vocational training of their choice, which included barbing, carpentry, cosmetology, farming, leather works, tailoring, cap weaving/embroidery and welding.

According to him, farming is made compulsory to all the clients in addition to any trade of their choice.

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“Some proposed vocational activities that are awaiting approval by partners include photography, block making, bread/pastry making, driving and maintenance, food processing, painting, plumbing and repair of basic technological devices such as phones and radios,” Ayuba added.

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