5,000 Repentant Boko Haram Fighters Reunited with Families

The National Counter Terrorism Centre, under the Office of the National Security Advisor, has announced that over 5,000 former Boko Haram fighters have been successfully reintegrated into society and reunited with their families.

Ambassador Mairo Musa Abbas, Head of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), disclosed this at the second-day session of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum. She confirmed that none of the ex-combatants returned to the battlefield after completing a six-month deradicalisation programme under Operation Safe Corridor.

According to Abbas, the former insurgents have been equipped with skills to sustain themselves within their communities. The National Orientation Agency (NOA), in collaboration with traditional and religious leaders across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, has been monitoring their reintegration progress.

She also highlighted the role of the Borno Model, a state-led reintegration initiative aimed at rehabilitating individuals who left extremist groups. The model, she noted, has complemented federal efforts in promoting peace and stability.

Calling for greater coordination among Lake Chad region governors and stakeholders, Abbas urged them to harmonise their strategies to ensure a unified approach to reintegration efforts.