Repentant Boko Haram Members Will Be Launched Into The Community In July – Defence HQ

Nigerian Defence Headquarters has confirmed that 603 repentant Boko Haram members who have been kept at the rehab and will be launched into the community in July
The Coordinator of Defence Media Operations (DMO), John Enenche made this known while speaking at Abuja on Thursday.Repentant Boko Haram Members Will Be Launched Into The Community In July - Defence HQ
Enenche noted that the insurgents have completed the deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme, which he said is an initiative of the Defence headquarters and had recorded tremendous success since inception in 2016.
He further described the programme as an international best practice for conflict management backed by relevant laws, adding that the scheme had enjoyed widespread collaboration and support of local and international non-governmental organisations.Repentant Boko Haram Members Will Be Launched Into The Community In July - Defence HQ
He added further that OPSC had admitted 893 ex-combatants for the programme, out of which 280 including, two Chadians, had been successfully reintegrated back into the society through their respective national and state authorities.
Presently, there are 603 of them undergoing the DRR Programme and would be graduating by July 2020. The operation is a success story as feedbacks from those reintegrated are positive. A particular one in Bama who learnt barbing as a vocation has successfully empowered four locals and is happily married with children“, he said.Repentant Boko Haram Members Will Be Launched Into The Community In July - Defence HQ
Meanwhile, in February, some soldiers had criticised the release of 1400 repentants Boko Haram members, questioning why the insurgents would be released while Boko Haram members kill soldiers without mercy. This, they described as wasted efforts.
Read also: Senators Debate Bill To Provide Repentant Boko Haram Members With Foreign Education
A lot of soldiers are not happy about this. We were there at the Maimalari barracks when some of these Boko Haram people were released. The authorities are releasing them, but Boko Haram are killing soldiers that they capture. This does not make sense to us at all. We continue to sweep across the bushes to flush these people out, and then the government will release them. Does that not amount to wasted efforts?“, one of the soldiers had said.Repentant Boko Haram Members Will Be Launched Into The Community In July - Defence HQ
The repentant Boko Haram members at the rehab
Photos Credit: Getty

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