The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that 800 former Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to the military are currently undergoing a one-year deradicalization process under Operation Safe Corridor for reintegration into society.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, the Chief of Defence, Operations, Maj.-Gen. Emeka Onumajuru, explained that while 129,000 Boko Haram fighters and their families have surrendered, only 800 were carefully selected for rehabilitation.
Process of Reintegration
Maj.-Gen. Onumajuru clarified that:
• Many surrendered fighters are in detention facilities, including Kainji, and are undergoing legal screening.
• Those found guilty of crimes face prosecution, while others undergo deradicalization with professional guidance.
• The one-year rehabilitation program is considered sufficient to change extremist mindsets before reintegration.
Military’s Approach to Asymmetric Warfare
The General emphasized the importance of combining military force (kinetic) and soft approaches (non-kinetic) in tackling insurgency.
“You cannot win an asymmetrical war with just a kinetic approach,” he stated, affirming that rehabilitation is a strategic part of counterterrorism efforts.
