According to Gen. Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), 613 rehabilitated low-risk repentant terrorists will be transferred to their respective state governments for reintegration into society.
Irabor made the disclosured thi during the fifth Stakeholders’ Meeting of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), on Thursday in Abuja.
The 613 clients are currently undergoing deradicalization and rehabilitation managed by the OPSC, according to the CDS, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Adeyemi Yekini.
Prior to the release of the clients who had undergone rehabilitation to their state governments, he stated that the meeting would in-depth address the Deradicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) Programme.
Irabor claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari created the OPSC in September 2015 as a platform for willing and repentant militants to give up their weapons and participate in a formal DRR program.
“It is also important to mention that upon graduation from the programme, each client will be provided some food and personal items, as well as a start-up pack according to the trade learnt during training to enable them to set up small businesses and start a new life.”
Irabor advised the receiving state governments to give the ex-combatants the assistance they need to get through the difficult transitioning period in their life.
“We are optimistic that working closely with local and traditional authorities, the states can deploy security apparatus at their disposal to effectively track and evaluate the re-integrated ex-combatants.
“I must emphasise that it is critical for all stakeholders involved in the reintegration processes in order to mitigate, or completely eliminate incidences of recidivism,” he said.
