Reintegrating Repentant Boko Haram Fighters Crucial for National Security – FG

The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the reintegration of repentant Boko Haram fighters, emphasizing the critical role of the initiative in strengthening national security. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) pledged its support for Operation Safe Corridor (OSC), a federal programme focused on deradicalising, rehabilitating, and reintegrating former insurgents, during a courtesy visit by OSC Coordinator Yusuf Ali and his team to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu acknowledged the presence of widespread misinformation surrounding the OSC initiative. In a statement posted on the agency’s official X page, he admitted that he initially held reservations due to a limited understanding of the programme’s aims, but now appreciates its logic and objectives. He described OSC as a vital component of efforts to restore peace and ensure lasting security across the country.

Issa-Onilu highlighted that many individuals who have passed through the programme were not ideologically aligned with extremist groups, but were instead abducted, coerced, or manipulated during the insurgency in the North-East. He emphasized the necessity of community-based reintegration, noting that without active local and governmental support, former fighters risk becoming socially isolated and vulnerable to re-radicalisation.

The NOA DG praised the military and security forces for their ongoing efforts and called for more public education to counteract misinformation, reduce stigma, and foster national unity. In his remarks, Yusuf Ali underscored the importance of combining both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to effectively tackle insecurity. He expressed concern over the stigmatisation and false narratives that obstruct reintegration and undermine national cohesion. Ali noted that the programme, which has been in operation for nearly ten years, continues to receive backing from United Nations agencies, state governments, traditional leaders, and religious institutions.