Haram terrorists.
The presidency has debunked reports suggesting that
repentant Boko Haram terrorists are being recruited into the
Nigerian military.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Senior Special Assistant
to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, says no
ex-terrorist is absorbed into the military.
This comes amid an allegation made by Borno State Governor,
Babagana Zulum that his convoy was attacked by soldiers and not
Boko Haram terrorists.
Following this development, many Nigerians had suggested on
social media that the attack was carried out by the repentant
insurgents who had allegedly joined the army.
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But Shehu said such rumours being peddled were fake.
“It is important for the public to know that nobody has ever
been absorbed into the military from the de-radicalized Boko Haram
and there is no such plan for their absorption,” the statement
partly read.
The presidential spokesman explained that the Federal
Government’s Operation Safe Corridor programme aimed at
rehabilitating the ex-terrorists were being monitored by the
International Organisation for Migration.
He insisted that none of the recent 601 former insurgents who
have undergone the radicalisation and rehabilitation programme is
admitted into the military.
“None of the 601 former Boko Haram members who voluntarily laid
down their arms, and have recently graduated from the Federal
Government’s de-radicalization and rehabilitation programme, is
going into the military.
“This is the fourth such graduation of repentant Boko Haram
fighters and not one of such graduates has been absorbed into the
military.
“The public needs to be reassured that the de-radicalization,
rehabilitation and reintegration of violent extremists of the
Buhari administration code-named “Operation Safe Corridor,” follows
an established example from countries with similar experiences, and
is supported academically and materially by the European Union and
the United Nations,” he said.
SEE FULL STATEMENT HERE:
SERIOUS LEADERS MUST NOT FALL FOR FAKE NEWS ON REPENTANT
TERRORISTS – PRESIDENCY
“Now that groups with hitherto proven bona fides, some religious
leaders and a few in the legislature have joined the supply chain
of fake news, it important that we step in to clear the false
reports that the administration is absorbing repentant Boko Haram
terrorists into the military.
“It is important for the public to know that nobody has ever
been absorbed into the military from the de-radicalized Boko Haram
and there is no such plan for their absorption.
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“None of the 601 former Boko Haram members who voluntarily laid
down their arms, and have recently graduated from the Federal
Government’s de-radicalization and rehabilitation programme, is
going into the military. This is the fourth such graduation of
repentant Boko Haram fighters and not one of such graduates has
been absorbed into the military.
“The public needs to be reassured that the de-radicalization,
rehabilitation and reintegration of violent extremists of the
Buhari administration code-named “Operation Safe Corridor,” follows
an established example from countries with similar experiences, and
is supported academically and materially by the European Union and
the United Nations.
“The lead agency for the implementation of the programme in
Gombe is the International Organization for Migration, a leading
inter-government organization which is represented in Nigeria.
“It is also important to note that this programme does not have
a place for hard-boiled, ideologically hardened terrorists. It only
admits, after careful scrutiny, repentant fighters that were
captured and forced to bear arms in the first instance, and there
are many who have been drafted by force.
“At the point of their graduation, a determination is made that
the former combatants have repented and are better citizens, imbued
with genuine nationalism. They must no longer represent a danger to
society or to themselves.
“Where they are certified as such, communities have the duty of
accepting them. Unless they want them to take up arms and resume
terrorism from which they have repented, community leaders must
work with the relevant agencies to end their rejection.
“The Buhari administration is a responsible one and is conscious
of its duty to the state and society, and to the victims of terror
as well as to those who inflicted these pains and losses on our
people.”
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 5, 2020