At least 5,000 former Boko Haram fighters have successfully reintegrated into Nigerian society, according to Mairo Musa Abbas, head of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE).
Abbas stated that the “Operation Safe Corridor” program has been crucial in deradicalizing these individuals and reuniting them with their families. This program, along with the “Borno Model,” has demonstrated significant success in rehabilitating repentant fighters and facilitating their return to their communities.
To monitor the reintegration process, local leaders and collaborators from the National Orientation Agency are utilizing tracking systems across all 774 local governments in Nigeria.
Abbas emphasized the importance of coordinated action among the governors of the Lake Chad region and all relevant stakeholders in addressing this complex issue.
The news of successful reintegrations comes amidst ongoing counter-terrorism operations by the Nigerian Air Force. Recent airstrikes in the northeastern state of Borno targeted high-profile terrorist leaders, resulting in significant casualties and the destruction of key Boko Haram infrastructure.
Boko Haram, an extremist group operating in Nigeria since the early 2000s, has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, causing widespread death and displacement. The group’s influence has expanded beyond Nigeria’s borders, impacting neighboring countries like Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. The violence has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians and resulted in at least 2,000 deaths across the Lake Chad Basin.