The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that 800 former Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to the military are currently undergoing deradicalisation and rehabilitation under the Operation Safe Corridor program for eventual reintegration into society.
The Chief of Defence, Operations, Maj.-Gen. Emeka Onumajuru, made this known on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief program.
Maj.-Gen. Onumajuru explained that while about 129,000 Boko Haram members and their families have surrendered so far, only a carefully screened 800 ex-fighters have been enrolled in the deradicalisation initiative.
“Right now, we have about 129,000 surrendered Boko Haram members and their families. Some are in detention facilities, some are in Kainji, and a special court evaluates their cases. Those found culpable face prosecution, while those eligible for rehabilitation go through the deradicalisation process, which lasts about a year,” he stated.
Addressing concerns about whether a one-year timeframe is sufficient for deradicalisation, Maj.-Gen. Onumajuru expressed confidence in the program, emphasizing that it is managed by trained professionals.
“The deradicalisation process is handled by experts, and the one-year period is considered adequate. The number currently in the program is only 800, carefully selected after thorough legal screening,” he explained.
Maj.-Gen. Onumajuru reiterated that Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and insurgency requires a mix of kinetic (military force) and non-kinetic (rehabilitation and reintegration) approaches.
“You cannot win an asymmetrical war with only a kinetic approach. The deradicalisation program under Operation Safe Corridor is part of the non-kinetic strategy, and it plays a crucial role in stabilizing the region,” he added.
The deradicalisation program is part of the federal government’s broader counter-insurgency strategy, which includes military operations, intelligence gathering, and rehabilitation efforts aimed at achieving long-term peace and security in the region.
