Group seeks support for military, as DRR camp de-radicalises 2,168 ex-Boko Haram fighters in eight years
…..1,000 others awaited on camp
Chima Azubuike
No fewer than 2,168 ex-Boko Haram members have passed through the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Re-integration camp at Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The camp operated by operation safe corridor runs a multi-agency humanitarian operation involving the military, security and law enforcement agencies, Federal Government Ministries Departments and Agencies, multi-national and non-governmental organisations.
Announcing the number in a media conference titled ‘eight years of impact’ delivered by the Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian Spokesman Media; Emeka Nwankpa, and Kasim Baba-Kasim, Northern Regional Rapporteur Concerned Professionals’ Congress, said it was based on briefings by the Defence Media Operations anchored by Major General Edward Buba on behalf of the CDS.
He disclosed that based on briefings no former client has been involved in criminal activities post-camp, saying that the 2,168 have been successfully integrated to their various communities.
Nwankpa said, “Gentlemen of the Press, you would have observed by now the regular and consistent Thursday press by the Defence Media Operations anchored by Major General Edward Buba on behalf of the CDS. I am pleased to inform you that the most dominant and recurring feature in those briefings is that thousands of repentant ex-Boko Haram fighters are surrendering en masse to our troops in the North East region. However, the good news does not stop there. Here in Mallam Sidi, Operation Safe Corridor has continued to receive them for the DRR programme.
“So far, a total of 2,168 has undergone the programme and successfully integrated into the Nigerian society. At our meeting with the Camp Commandant, he informed us that so far, no negative report of any their former clients-as repentant ex-Boko Haram combatants are called professionally-has been been done and that where few enquiries were sought from their records, none of them was found wanting because of the intensity, depth, credibility and integrity of the DRR programme which he said many countries have shown huge interest to adopt, for example, Ethiopia which sent top officials last month.”
He noted that based on the briefings about 22 have been de-radicalised, with 1,000 others were being awaited after formal arrangements.
“According to him, while 22 fully de-radicalised and rehabilitated ex-Boko Haram fighters awaiting re-integration are still in their custody, no less that 1,000 are being expected as soon as formal arrangements between the respective authorities are concluded.
“He said that the Defence Headquarters has left no stone unturned in the tasks ahead, adding that tremendous support services had been provided by international organisations such as the International Organisation on Migration (IOM) but he cautioned against unnecessary bureaucracy as a potential hindrance to their operations describing that the DRR assignment as a movement running on wheels of haste,” Nwankpa added.
He lauded President Bola Tinubu, for appointing the present Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa, whom was a former theatre commander of operation Hadin Kai, adding “Gentlemen of the press, it bears restating here to add that the Defence Headquarters under the present CDS has spearheaded the process of galvanising the support of strategic stakeholders including the media and the Civil Society, saying that the leadership and staff of the OPSC were glad when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu named General Christopher Gwabin Musa as the Chief of Defence Staff. They said they believed he already knew much about OPSC as former Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri.”
On his part, Baba-Kasim, lauded the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, for ensuring support for the domestication of operation corridor in the state.
He said, “At this juncture, Gentlemen of the Press, it is not proper to end this press briefing without putting on record the support and understanding of the local community, traditional institution, religious community, legislature and the populace of Gombe State ably led the Gombe State Governor, His Excellency, Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya, CON, whom we reliably gathered from sundry sources that he mobilised his entire Administration in his first term to provide maximum support to OPSC in the spirit of national pride and cohesion.”
