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FG Successfully Reunites 5,000 Repentant Boko Haram Fighters with Their Families

Published by Tope Fakinlede on January 31st, 2025.

FG Successfully Reunites 5,000 Repentant Boko Haram Fighters with Their Families

The National Counter Terrorism Centre, under the Office of the National Security Adviser, has revealed that over 5,000 former Boko Haram fighters who have renounced violence have been successfully reunited with their families.

According to the Centre, none of the ex-combatants have returned to combat following their six-month participation in the deradicalization program.

Ambassador Mairo Musa Abbas, the Head of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), made the announcement during the second session of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum. She highlighted that the Operation Safe Corridor program, which focuses on the deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former fighters, has helped reintegrate more than 5,000 repentant Boko Haram members back into society.

“Through the Operation Safe Corridor initiative, we have successfully deradicalized over 5,000 ex-Boko Haram fighters and facilitated their reunification with their families,” she stated. “They are now using the skills they acquired during their time in the program to sustain themselves within their communities.”

The program also relies on collaborations with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and local leaders across Nigeria’s 774 local governments to monitor the reintegration process and track the progress of these individuals as they settle back into their communities.

The “Borno Model,” a state-led strategy aimed at reintegrating former extremists, has played a crucial role in supporting the federal government’s efforts to foster peace within the country.

“We’ve always emphasized that the ‘Borno Model’ is a necessary approach, and it has yielded significant success, particularly with the successful reintegration of many repentant fighters into their families,” she added.

Ambassador Abbas also urged governors from the Lake Chad region and other relevant stakeholders to align their strategies to ensure coordinated efforts in addressing the issue.