Recently, around 600 ex-Boko Haram fighters completed Nigeria’s De-radicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) program. The graduation ceremony was held at the DRR camp located in the northern region of Gombe, where the former militants donned white attire and pledged loyalty to Nigeria.
The primary objective of the Operation Safe Corridor program is to reintegrate former militants back into society by evaluating their physical, mental, and psychosocial states. The program has shown significant success in reducing Boko Haram’s strength. However, experts remain concerned about the possibility of the ex-fighters returning to their previous violent ways.
The DRR program aims to encourage former militants to participate in various vocational training programs and community reintegration initiatives. This initiative has seen hundreds of former Boko Haram fighters abandon their violent ways, embracing education and learning new skills to improve their livelihoods.
Despite the program’s achievements, it has also faced significant criticism. Several analysts argue that the government’s initiative is only a Band-Aid solution and does not address the root cause of extremism in Nigeria. Additionally, some people believe that the government should provide more robust support for the program’s participants.
Senator Iroegbu, an expert in security, has noted that the program may be of assistance, but there is a potential for regressions. Iroegbu questioned the impact of the program and whether it has been effective in preventing additional recruitment. He concluded that the program is controversial and will likely always encounter some opposition.
Since 2019, reports have stated that a large number of former Boko Haram members have been released and are now contributing positively to their communities. However, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State suggested a re-examination of the program in 2021, asserting that former members of Boko Haram monitor the towns and then return to the group.
Vivian Bellonwu, creator of Social Action Nigeria, revealed that the rehabilitation efforts have mainly been directed at the rebels, whereas the communities experienced profound trauma. Bellonwu emphasized that the communities should also receive psychological and psychosocial rehabilitation, yet this has not been done to a sufficient extent. Bellonwu stated that returning to the communities they once damaged will not be a simple task for the ex-combatants.
Boko Haram has been attempting to create a caliphate in the northern regions of Nigeria since 2009, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and extending into the bordering countries of Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
In the past year, defense forces in Nigeria reported that they had accepted the surrender of nearly 51,000 individuals associated with Boko Haram and their families between July 2021 and May 2022.
The insurgency of Boko Haram in Nigeria has caused immense destruction and instability in the country, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives and displacement of millions of people. In response to this crisis, the Nigerian government has initiated several programs aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating former Boko Haram members into society. This approach is seen as critical to Nigeria’s peace-building efforts, as it offers a path for former militants to abandon their violent past and re-enter society as productive citizens.
One such program is the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) program, which has been successful in reducing the strength of Boko Haram by encouraging members to surrender their weapons and renounce violence. However, experts argue that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the insurgency and support the affected communities. For instance, the government should provide basic services, such as education, healthcare, and job opportunities, to prevent vulnerable youths from being recruited into militant groups.
Operation Safe Corridor is another program aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating former Boko Haram members into society. The initiative provides a safe and secure environment for former militants to undergo rehabilitation, learn vocational skills, and receive counseling. It also supports their reintegration into their communities by working with local leaders and providing them with basic needs
