FG to release 613 Boko Haram fighters to their home states – CDS
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The Chief of Defense Staff, CDS, Lucky Irabor, has said that no fewer than 613 rehabilitated low-risk repentant terrorists will be transferred to their state governments for reintegration into society.
Mr Irabor stated this on Thursday during the fifth Stakeholders’ Meeting of Operation Safe Corridor, OPSC, in Abuja.
Represented by the Chief of Defense Training and Operation, Adeyemi Yekini, the CDS said the repentant terrorists are currently undergoing de-radicalisation and rehabilitation handled by the OPSC.
According to him, the meeting would discuss the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration, DRR, programme ahead of their transfer.
Mr Irabor added that the OPSC was established by President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2015 as a window for willing and repentant terrorists to lay down their arms and undergo a structured DRR programme.
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He added: “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 start-up pack, according to the trade learnt during training to enable them set up small businesses and start a new life.”
Mr Irabor urged the receiving state governments to provide the necessary support to enable the ex-combatants to wade through the transitional and most challenging phase of their lives.
Coordinator of OPSC, Maj.-Gen. Joseph Maina, said the programme had successfully processed 1,573 clients, comprising 1,555 Nigerians and 18 foreign nationals from Cameroon, Chad and Niger, since it started in 2016.
