The Defence Headquarters has revealed that 800 former Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to the military are currently undergoing deradicalisation to facilitate their reintegration into society.
Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Emeka Onumajuru, shared this update on Channels TV Morning Brief on Monday, February 10, 2025, stating that one year is deemed sufficient for reorienting and reintegrating the ex-terrorists.
He further explained that, of the 129,000 Boko Haram fighters and their families who have surrendered, only a select group has been chosen for rehabilitation. Onumajuru emphasized that all surrendered individuals undergo legal scrutiny; those found guilty face prosecution, while others suitable for rehabilitation are enrolled in the deradicalisation programme, known as Operation Safe Corridor.
“To clarify, we currently have about 129,000 surrendered Boko Haram members and their families,” Onumajuru said. “As a professional army, when an opponent surrenders, we take them in and allow the legal process to take its course.”
He added that some detainees are being held in detention facilities, including Kainji, and undergo a special court process. Those found guilty are prosecuted, while those eligible for deradicalisation proceed through the rehabilitation process, which typically takes about a year.
Onumajuru clarified that the 800 individuals currently undergoing the programme are selected through a thorough legal process and are admitted in batches.
