One Chadian, three Nigeriens, 590 repentant terrorists graduate from Gombe camp
…..588 clients are Muslims, while six are Christians
Chima Azubuike
No fewer than 594 ex-Boko Haram members have graduated from Operation Corridor’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Re-integration camp in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Our correspondent reports that out of the 594; 590 are Nigerians, while four others are foreigners; three Nigeriens, and one Chadian National.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony Camp Commandant Colonel Uche Nnabuihe, explained that 15 clients hail from Adamawa, 495 from Borno, 16 from Yobe, 16 from Kano, three from Gombe, 13 from Kaduna, one from Kogi, 12 from Bauchi, five from Jigawa, five from Katsina, four from Kebbi, one from Nasarawa, one from Plateau, while two are from Zamfara States.
According to him, out of the entire graduating 594; 588 clients are Muslims, while six are Christians, disclosing that upon arrival medical tests were conducted, alongside capturing of their data by National Identity Management Commission.
He said, “Today marks yet another milestone in the de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and re-integration of programme for regular batch six 2002 and special batch 4 2002 clients that arrived the DRR camp September 2022 and 8th October 2022 for the mandatory de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and re-integration programme. Upon arrival the clients totalling 594 were subjected to comprehensive physical and medical test by a combined team of medical experts from the DRR camp clinic and Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe. The medical tests were aimed at ascertaining the health status of the clients towards providing proper and adequate care during DRR training circle.
“Similarly, and inline with requirements of the programme clients biometrics were captured by representatives of National Identity Management Commission to provide them Identity card at the end of the programme the screen and initial documentation of clients which was carried out by operation safe corridor intelligence department was done to obtain background information required for referencing programme planning clients were taken through various therapeutic engagement during the programme. The psychological team on their own part engaged the clients on psychological intervention, they identified and treated clients diagnosed with high anxiety, stress disorder and anger issues the psychological intervention was done in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration psychologists.
Speaking about the Operation’s effort at bequeathing clients with means of livelihoods, Nnabuihe said, “They were trained with skills for self reliance after re-interpretation with their communities in this regard 85 clients trained barbing as vocation, 81 clients trained in shoe making, 158 clients chose welding as vocation of choice, while 213 clients selected tailoring, more so, 38 clients were trained in carpentry, while 28 learnt skills in laundry services all the clients participated in the mandatory integrated farming, training activities which include Agro, poultry and fish farming and also important of mention is that 594 clients graduating 590 are Nigerians, while four are foreigners; three are Nigerien, and one Chadian National.”
“A further breakdown shows 15 clients hail from Adamawa, 495 from Borno State and 16 from Yobe, 16 from Kano, three from Gombe, 13 from Kaduna, one from Kogi, 12 from Bauchi, five from Jigawa, five from Katsina, four from Kebbi, one from Nasarawa, one from Plateau, while two hail from Zamfara States.
“Equally, 588 clients are Muslims, while six are christians. These information was essential for management planning and coordination of re-integration process, it also aided the assessment of the client where an intervention plan was drawn according to their risk and needs as part of the process for their re-integration transitional justice system by way of phone calls, as stakeholders and family visitation was conducted for the clients the essence was to give the clients that sense of belonging build their confidence and create room for genuine reconciliation and re-integration,” the Commandant added.
On his part, Major General Joseph Maina, Coordinator Operation Safe Corridor decried the impact of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East region, adding that it has continued to impact negatively on the lives and livelihoods of the people thereby impacting negatively on development.
“It’s on record that the activities of these groups have led to the displacement of over 2million people internally and so many others driven into neighbouring countries as refugees, recognising the limits of purely military solution and the urgent need to end the untold suffering caused by the sufferings the Federal Government introduced operation safe corridor as a non-kinetic multi agency approach in the support of military actions since 2015.”
While commending the efforts of international partners for its support, Maina commended IOM for building 60 capacity hostel, as well as expansion of the camp’s vocational centres.
“I would like to inform this distinguished audience that in anticipation of the current mass surrender of Boko Haram and Iswap fighters the Defence Headquarters quickly activated it contingency plan to deal with the development. In that trajectory efforts were made to expand critical infrastructure on the camp a 320-capacity-hostel was constructed by the Defence Headquarters while International Organisation for Migration built a 60-capacity-hostel and expanded the vocational training centres currently the Federal Ministry of Justice is constructing an additional 400 bed hostel which is expected to be completed in a couple of months.
“It is therefore envisaged that these projects will increase Operation Safe Corridor capacity to process more clients when completed. Apart from these expansion programmes I’m glad to inform this gathering that the next set of clients to be admitted for the programme will be exposed to new vocations such as phone repairs, bakery and bricklaying,” Maina added.
