The Boko Harm sect is still a terror to Nigerians, especially those in the northeast. They have caused a lot of death and kidnapping. People lost loved ones in numerous attacks.
They have a stronghold in the north-eastern part of Nigeria, terrorising the whole communities and rendering many homeless.
Will the law pardon them after committing a lot of crimes against humanity?
Gradually, some of them are becoming new creatures and old things are passing away.
No less than 594 former Boko Haram members have completed the de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration programme.
The programme is run by the Federal Government’s Operation Safe Corridor in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State.
During the graduation ceremony, the camp commandant, Col. Uche Nnabuihe, said that “fifteen of the rehabilitated persons 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 Nnabuihe, 590 of the 594 graduating repentant terrorists are Nigerian citizens, while the other four are foreigners—three Nigeriens and one Chadian.
“588 clients (rehabilitated persons) are Muslims, while six are Christians,” the camp commandant reported.
He explained that upon arrival, medical tests were conducted on them while their data were captured by the National Identity Management Commission.
Mandatory De-radicalistion
“Today marks yet another milestone in the de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme for regular Batch Six 2002 and Special Batch 4 2002 clients that arrived the DRR camp between September 2022 and October 8, 2022, for the mandatory de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration 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 cycle.” Nnabuihe stated.
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Nnabuihe added that “they were trained in skills for self-reliance after re-interpretation with their communities in this regard.
“Eighty-five clients trained as barbers, 81 clients trained in shoemaking, 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”.
Over Two million Displaced
Major Gen.eral Joseph Maina, the coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, lamented the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency in the region’s North-East, adding that it has continued to have a detrimental effect on people’s lives, livelihoods, and development.
“It is documented that the actions of these groups have resulted in the internal displacement of over two million people and the displacement of many more into neighboring countries as refugees,” he said.
“Recognising the limits of pure military solution and the urgent need to end the untold suffering, the Federal Government introduced Operation Safe Corridor as a non-kinetic multi-agency approach in the support of military actions since 2015.”
Boko Haram Members Apologise
A remorseful Boko Haram member, Muhammad Abba, apologised to Nigerians for the group’s atrocities committed against numerous communities in the nation during the graduation ceremony.
“We apologise for our many wrongs to our communities and everyone here,” Abba stated.
“We apologise to everyone in the many communities we are from; we sincerely regret the atrocities committed and will not repeat them”.
Also, he emphasised that they were now under an oath.
“We have sworn allegiance to our loving, peaceful nation, Nigeria.
“We are aware of the repercussions of swearing an oath using the Holy Bible or the Quran.
“Allah would not be pleased with you if you break your oath.
“We are confident that He will punish you, even if you manage to flee Nigeria’s security.
“We pledge to uphold the allegiance and oath we have made”.
