Colonel Nwachukwu Onyema
DDI
Nigerian
Colonel Nwachukwu Onyema
DDI
Nigerian Military not Recruiting Repentant Boko Haram
Fighters
The Defence Headquarters has been notified of false information
peddled in some online media, insinuating that deradicalized Boko
Haram ex- fighters are being absorbed into the Nigerian military.
One of such insinuations is contained in a trending video footage
published by Roots TV, where one Balhatu Musa Ezekiel claimed the
Nigeria Army had recruited de-redicalized Boko Haram Ex-fighters
into the Army and was therefore recycling insurgency.
The Defence Headquarters wishes to unambiguously state that
Balhatu’s claims are not only bereft of truth, but laced with
mediocrity emanating from poorly researched and uninformed
position.
Contrary to his claims , no Boko Haram ex- fighter has been
recruited into the Nigerian military and no such plan is in the
offing.
The de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration program
is a Federal Government program conducted under the auspices of
Operation Safe Corridor as a non- kinetic operation.
Nigeria’s De-radicalization model is a very effective one,
targeted at low risk combatants and has become a classical example
in the Lake Chad Basin Region and West Africa.
Over 250 repentant insurgents who willingly abandoned their
struggle and surrendered to federal troops have been
de-radicalized, rehabilitated and re-integrated into the society by
their respective state governments in conjunction with traditional
and religious institutions.
Nigeria’s De-radicalization model is therefore not new in the
global community, as such model exists in Algeria, Colombia,
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, where persons involved in violent
extremism have been de-radicalized and rehabilitated . This process
is therefore an internationally acceptable practice now.
So far in Nigeria, the de-radicalized ex-fighters are doing well
in their respective communities, as no adverse report has been
recorded against the de-radicalized repentant ex fighters by
Operation Safe Corridor’s monitoring unit. There has not been
report of molestation or harassment of any sort against them by
members of the communities, where they are resettled. As a matter
of verifiable fact, the reintegrated ex- fighters are doing well in
their various endeavours and are positively impacting on their
respective communities.
It is also expedient to state, that the Federal Government of
Nigeria has continued to prosecute BHT/ISWAP suspects in courts of
competent jurisdiction and over 500 terrorists have so far been
convicted. Meanwhile, the next round of prosecution of another
batch of terrorism suspects is due to commence shortly.
Members of the public are therefore enjoined to please
discountenance the misinformation and misguided views peddled by
Balhatu Musa Ezekiel, as it constitutes outright aberration of
extant recruitment procedures and practice of the Armed Forces of
Nigeria.
The Defence Headquarters reiterates its commitment to ensuring a
well motivated, trained and equipped Armed Forces that is
professionally responsive to national security commitments.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Brigadier General
Acting Director Defence Information