800 Repentant Boko Haram Fighters Undergoing Deradicalisation – Defence Headquarters

The Defence Headquarters has announced that 800 former Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to the military are currently undergoing deradicalisation as part of efforts to reintegrate them into society.

Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Emeka Onumajuru, disclosed this on Monday, February 10, 2025, during an interview on Channels TV Morning Brief. He stated that the one-year rehabilitation programme is considered sufficient to reorient and reintegrate the former insurgents.

According to Onumajuru, a total of 129,000 Boko Haram members and their families have surrendered so far. However, only a select number have been chosen for rehabilitation, while others undergo legal scrutiny. He emphasized that individuals found guilty of crimes face prosecution, while those deemed fit for rehabilitation are enrolled in the Operation Safe Corridor programme.

Clarifying the figures, Onumajuru explained that the 129,000 surrenderees do not all qualify for deradicalisation. He stated that some are held in detention facilities, including Kainji, while a special court processes their cases. Those found culpable face legal consequences, whereas those cleared for rehabilitation undergo the structured deradicalisation process.

“The number taken in is not huge,” he noted. “Right now, about 800 are undergoing the programme in batches. These are individuals who have been thoroughly vetted through the legal process before being admitted to the centre.”