Defence Headquarters has said 603 repentant Boko Haram members are to be reintegrated into their communities in July, following completion of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme.
This was disclosed by coordinator of Defence Media Operations (DMO), John Enenche, while giving update on Armed Forces of Nigeria operations at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.
Major-General Enenche, said the DRR programme, which is defence Headquarters led multi-agency programme under Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), has recorded tremendous success since inception in 2016.
He added that OPSC has admitted 893 ex-combatants for the programme out of which 280 including two Chadians have been successfully reintegrated back into the society through their respective national and state authorities.
Major-General Enenche stressed;
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 noted that the concept of OPSC was that of a unique non-kinetic operation aimed at giving hope to ex-combatants who willingly give up their arms to embrace peace.
The DMO coordinator emphasised that the operation was guided by among other provisions such as International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws.
According to him, it is being administered by 468 staff drawn from 17 organisations including the armed forces, law enforcement and security agencies, other Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
He added that the scheme had also enjoyed widespread collaboration and support of local and international NGOs.
Enenche urged the public to disregard any misinformation about the programme, saying it is part of effort to end insurgency in the North East.
He also clarified that the ongoing operations in the North East and North West were aimed at curtailing the movement of terrorists and bandits across the country.
