The Borno State Government has received 230 repentant Boko Haram insurgents who recently completed the Federal Government’s Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe State.
The return of the ex-combatants comes amid renewed concerns by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who had recently lamented that Borno is losing ground in the ongoing war against Boko Haram terrorists.
The insurgents, all of whom are Borno indigenes, were part of 390 individuals formerly affiliated with Boko Haram who voluntarily surrendered to the Nigerian Army and graduated from the DRR camp in Malam Sidi.
The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, commended the multi-agency collaboration that made the programme possible and urged host communities to support the reintegration of the ex-insurgents.
The ex-insurgents underwent six months of structured rehabilitation, including psychological counselling, religious reorientation, civic education, and vocational training, designed to help them transition into responsible citizens and contribute positively to society.
The Commandant of the DRR Camp, Colonel A.A. Johnson, emphasized that the programme addresses both ideological and behavioural transformation, and the oath of allegiance taken by the graduates signifies their readiness to embrace peace and national unity.
Representing the Borno State Government, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, reiterated Governor Zulum’s commitment to peacebuilding and inclusive reintegration, welcoming the ex-insurgents and reassuring them that Borno is ready to reintegrate them into society with dignity.
The event drew participants from several states and representatives from various agencies, including the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the North East Development Commission (NEDC).