The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has said that about 51,828 Boko haram fighters and their family members have surrendered to the Federal Government between July 2021 and May 2022.
Gen. Lucky Irabor while delivering a lecture at the 7th Founders’ Day of Edo State University Uzairue, titled “National Defence Policy and Transitional Justice Approach in the War against Insurgency in Nigeria", said out of the 51,828 members of the insurgent, 13,360 were fighters.
He disclosed that 1,543 repentant terrorists have so far graduated from the Mallam Sidi camp, in Gombe state between 2016 and 2022, while 1,935 have been released from the camp in Bulumkutu, Maiduguri.
Speaking further, the Army boss said Operation Safe Corridor as a transitional justice approach is similar to the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme launched by the federal government in 2009 that involved the setting up of special facilities where repentant terrorists who surrendered their arms can be rehabilitated.
He said the transitional Justice is a key part of any counter-insurgency because it helps heal wounds, and noted that he was glad to be in Edo State University Uzairue which gives him the opportunity to talk about the Military's efforts in the fight against insurgency in country.
The Operation Safe Corridor according to him, offers numerous opportunities to the insurgents and participants are scheduled for vocational training to ease their reintegration into the society”.
When asked by one of the participants why Operation Safe Corridor Programme will allow the insurgents to go scot-free knowing the psychological damage it could cause the family members of those who they maimed and killed, Gen. Irabor said people should learn to forgive and accept people back to the Society no matter the offense they have committed which is the essence of the Programme to help absorb them and integrate them back to their communities.
Earlier, the Vice-chancellor of the University, Engr. Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, during the event appreciated the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu for their continuous support for the university and for creating enabling environment for the university to thrive.