No fewer than 559 repentant Boko Haram terrorists are set for reintegration into the society after completing their rehabilitation programme.

The federal government in 2015 launched the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme for terrorists who were willing to surrender their weapons.

The ex-terrorists were dressed in white kaftans, green caps and face masks at their graduation which held on Sunday in Gombe state.

Joseph Maina, coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor at the ceremony, commended president Muhammadu Buhari, whose administration has witnessed the reintegration of over 1,000 Boko Haram terrorists into the society.

“Since September 2015, the federal republic of Nigeria, president Muhammadu Buhari established the Operation Safe Corridor to encourage willing and repentant Boko Haram members to surrender and go through a well-structured rehabilitation and deradicalisation and reintegration programmes,” said Mr Maina.

According to him, the former insurgents had undergone psychological and psycho-spiritual counselling, medical screening, sports therapy, drug abuse counselling, western education and vocational training since their enrollment between July 15 and September 6, 2021.

“Consequently, personnel were drawn from the 17 services, ministries, departments and agencies to execute the concept of operation.

“Since the DRR camp became fully operational, a total of 1070 ex-combatants have successfully gone through the programme and have been reintegrated into society.

“This morning, another set of 559 class will be graduating from the programme and they too will be reintegrated back into their community subsequently,” Mr Maina added.

Meanwhile, chief of defence staff, Lucky Irabor, who was represented by major-general Adeyemi Yekini urged the graduating ex-terrorists to uphold their loyalty pledge to the nation.

“I urge you to go out there and be worthy ambassadors of Operation Safe Corridor by being law-abiding and responsible citizens,” he said.

He also encouraged them to brace up for rejection from community members after the programme.

“Some of you will encounter resentment and rejections in your communities but I can assure you, if you remember and practise everything you have learnt during the DRR programme, you will surmount these challenges.”

Boko Haram terrorists are responsible for killing thousands of civilians including women and children in the northern part of the country. 

Many Nigerians have also been displaced from their homes due to attacks by the Boko Haram members, now repentant terrorists.