The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has disclosed that over 5,000 former Boko Haram fighters have been reintegrated into society and reunited with their families.
The Head of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) at NCTC, Amb. Mairo Musa Abbas, made this known during the second-day session of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum.
She emphasized that none of the ex-combatants have returned to the battlefield after undergoing the six-month deradicalisation programme under Operation Safe Corridor.
“Under Operation Safe Corridor, we have deradicalised over 5,000 ex-combatants of Boko Haram and reunited them with their families.
They are using the skills they acquired during the six-month programme to sustain themselves within their communities,” Abbas stated.
She highlighted the role of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and traditional and religious leaders in monitoring the reintegration process across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
According to her, the community-based surveillance mechanisms have been effective in tracking the progress of the rehabilitated individuals.
The official also praised the Borno Model, a state-led strategy aimed at reintegrating former extremists, for its contribution to peace-building efforts.
She described it as a “model of necessity” that has yielded positive outcomes in reconciling repented fighters with their families and communities.
Abbas called on governors within the Lake Chad region and other stakeholders to harmonise their reintegration strategies to ensure a coordinated approach in dealing with the challenges posed by violent extremism.