The federal government said that 22 repentant terrorists undergoing rehabilitation at the Operation Safe Corridor Centre have been transferred to the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri for further evaluation and management.

The government also said that since the commencement of the Programme in 2016, OPSC has successfully processed 2,190 clients comprising 2,163 Nigerians and 27 foreign nationals from Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Speaking at the Stakeholders’ Meeting to Work Out Modalities For the Transfer of Rehabilitated Clients to Their National and State Governments, at the DHQ in Abuja, the Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, said all the foreign clients were transferred to their respective national authorities for reintegration.

“Between July and November 2024, a total of 825 clients were transferred to the Camp to commence training. Amongst them are 14 foreigners from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. It is also important to mention that 22 clients were subsequently transferred to the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri for further evaluation and management.

“Our purpose this morning, in line with the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff/National Chairman of OPSC, is to work out modalities for the smooth transfer of the clients presently in the camp to their national and states authorities for re-integration after graduation in March 2025”.

“Specifically, at the end of this meeting, it is expected that we would have achieved the following milestones: a. All stakeholders would be fully abreast with activities of OPSC and DRR Programme in particular. b. The State authorities and the MDAs would know in specific terms, the roles they would play in the transfer as well as re-integration process of the clients. c. Identify and recommend in specific terms affordable Resettlement Package for the clients and assign responsibility to relevant MDAs to provide. d. Determine the mode community sensitization, camp visitation and community service programmes would take.e. Ratify the Graduation Date and initiate arrangements for the ceremony”.

Declaring the meeting open, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, said over 120, 000 terrorists and their family members surrendered since the inception of Operations Safe Corridor in 2016.

Represented by Chief of Defence Policy and Plan, Air Vice Marshal Sayo Olatunde, the CDS, said Operation Safe Corridor was initiated due to the mass surrender of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province members.

He said the centre currently has a total of 789 ex-combatants now called clients, undergoing a de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration program under the initiative and are expected to graduate this year.

He noted that the stakeholders meeting is centered on coming up with modalities to ensure proper reintegration of the first of two batches consisting of 391 insurgents into their states.

The CDS noted that upon graduation from this scheme, each client (insurgent) will be provided with some personal items as well as startup packs based on the trade acquired during their training.

He said this is to enable them to set up small businesses and start a new life.

“Accordingly, I urge benefiting state governments to facilitate the seamless reintegration of the ex-combatants by providing additional support to ease the transition process.

“We are very optimistic that working closely with local and traditional authorities, the state can deploy security apparatus at their disposal to effectively track and monitor the progress of the reintegrated ex-combatants.

“I must emphasize that all stakeholders must be actively involved in this reintegration process to foster resiliency,” he said.

OPSC is a multi-agency humanitarian scheme backed by extant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as International Humanitarian and Human Right Laws.

The operation consists of personnel drawn from 17 Services, Ministries, Departments and Agencies. This unique composition presents a whole of government approach towards tackling the insurgency in the Northeast. (Courtesy, excluding headline, AriseNews TV)