5th March, 2020
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has dismissed reports that repentant and rehabilitated Boko Haram members were being recruited into the Nigerian military.
Olonisakin, who was represented by Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, AVM Nurudeen Balogun, stated this at a stakeholders’ Meeting of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) on Thursday in Abuja.
The meeting was convened by the Defence Headquarters to work out modalities for the transfer of rehabilitated ex-Boko Haram terrorists to their national and state governments.
He said there have also been fears that products of OPSC were being recruited into the military and paramilitary organisations.
“I wish to categorically refute the claim and assure Nigerians that none of the rehabilitated Nigerians from OPSC Deradicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration has been recruited into the Nigerian Military or any sister security agencies.
“Stringent measures have been put in place to prevent such from happening. The Federal Government of Nigeria and indeed the armed forces as well as the Security agencies are committed to ending the insurgency in the North East and other forms of criminalities bedeviling the nation,” he said.
Olonisakin said that the military had made progress in the fight against insurgency. He added that activities of Boko Haram/Islamic State of West African Province terrorists had been greatly restricted to a small portion of Sambisa forest and isolated islands on the Lake Chad.
According to him, the sect carry out occasional attacks on soft military and civil targets, and very lately, disruption of movement on major highways in the North East to create apprehension and insecurity.
“However, through consistent and effective air interdiction and regular clearance operations on identified strongholds of the insurgents, the Sect has suffered heavy casualties in its leadership cadre causing confusion in their ranks.
“As at today, over 1,000 high profile Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West African Province members have been captured/arrested and investigated, out of which over 500 have been convicted by courts of competent jurisdiction.
“Generally, counterinsurgency operations are dynamic and requires ingenuity to achieve desired results. Consequently, President Muhammadu Buhari in using the multi-dimensional approach to addressing the insurgency, extended an olive branch to willing and repentant low-profile Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West African Province members.
“Mr President therefore directed the establishment of OPERATION SAFE CORRIDOR to create opportunities for them to lay down their arms and undergo a structured De-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Programme.
The Scheme is multi-agency in nature with over 450 staff drawn from 17 Services, Ministries, Departments and Agencies with the support of local and international partners as well as friendly nations.
“OPSC activities are guided by extant provisions of international humanitarian and human right laws as well as the Constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said.