390 former Boko Haram members completed a government-led de-radicalisation programme in Gombe State. Trained in vocational skills, they pledged loyalty to Nigeria. Officials praised the initiative, but public reactions online remain skeptical about its long-term impact. The programme aims to reduce insurgency through rehabilitation and social reintegration strategies.
A total of 390 former Boko Haram members have completed the Federal Government’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme at a centre in Gombe State. The initiative, part of Operation Safe Corridor, aims to reintegrate repentant insurgents back into society through counselling, vocational training, and civic education.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, represented at the event, emphasized the programme’s contribution to national security, highlighting the non-combative strategy’s effectiveness in stabilizing the northeast. The graduates included six foreign nationals from neighbouring countries and 384 Nigerians from various states. Their vocational training covered skills such as welding, tailoring, and carpentry, while each graduate received ₦50,000 and starter kits to aid their transition.
The Commandant of the DRR Camp, Col. Abiodun Johnson, stated that all participants had publicly denounced their ties to the insurgent group and pledged allegiance to Nigeria.
Reactions online have been skeptical. Many Nigerians questioned the sincerity of the repentant insurgents and criticized the incentives given, arguing that victims of terrorism receive less support. Comments ranged from disbelief to satire, with users expressing doubts about the long-term success of the programme and predicting a potential relapse into violence.
The Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, applauded the government’s approach and announced the expansion of the programme to other geopolitical zones, including a new DRR centre in Zamfara. Despite government assurances, public trust in the reintegration of former insurgents remains shaky.
