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De-radicalization of ex-boko haram fighters: Victims need care too… Gombe Dep. Gov

Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General Joel Maina, explaining a point to Gombe Dep Gov, Manasseh Daniel Jatau.

William Attah, Gombe

Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manasseh Daniel Jatau, wants the same attention given to repentant boko haram, ISWAP fighters to be given to victims of insurgency.

The Federal Government has been implementing a De-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor, for repentant fighters of boko haram and ISWAP at the Gombe State NYSC Orientation Camp for the past six years.

The Deputy Governor told the new Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General Joel Maina, during a courtesy call on him that “the task ahead of you is a daunting task because it is not easy to get the society’s buy in in the DRR Programme of the culprit, whereas the victims, to a large extent, remain unidentified, uncared for, and un-rehabilitated.”

While appreciating the sacrifices of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies as well as successes recorded in the fight against insurgency, the Deputy Governor challenged the administrators of Operation Safe Corridor to brace-up for the challenges associated with the Deradicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of repentant insurgents.

He said Gombe State has played a significant role by making numerous sacrifices to maintain peace and security in the northeast region.

According to him, “there in lies the dilemma confronting you as actors and those to implement. I trust your professional calling to overcome this challenge that has been a subject of debate among our legislators at the National Assembly.

“I urge you to conduct your program as required, and having witnessed a graduation ceremony, there is the compelling need to have more social Psychologists and Sociologists who specialize in deviant behavior”, he stressed.

He also urged the Operation Safe Corridor to embark on Corporate Social Responsibility to the limit of the resources available to the immediate community.

The Deputy Governor noted that the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is ensuring that nobody in the state is left out in the struggle to overcome the numerous challenges militating against the development of the state, Northeast and Nigeria at large.

He said, in the face of insurgency, citizens have witnessed untold hardship, but expressed delight over the good news of insurgents turning around to denounce their activities, thereby creating the need for the establishment of Operation Safe Corridor.

He explained that the state has, in spite of its inconvenience, offered the NYSC Orientation Camp as a temporary base and as its own contributions to ensuring the success of the program for the benefit of all

Speaking earlier, Brigadier General Maina, told the Dep Gov that Operation Safe Corridor was initiated and started six years ago by the federal government to encourage no-risk repentant and willing ex-Boko Haram and ISWAP members.

He said in a bid to explore the non kinetic aspect in support of the kinetic operations of soldiers in the northeast, seventeen agencies including the Army are drawn to participate in the Deradicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration exercise.

The Coordinator explained that the process begins with screening and documentation of the clients, followed by removing the wrong ideologies, and then training them on skills acquisition. Thereafter, the Reintegration, which is expected to be done by their states of origin.

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