In a significant milestone in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts, the National Counter Terrorism Centre has announced that over 5,000 repented Boko Haram fighters have been reunited with their families. This achievement is a result of the Operation Safe Corridor program, a deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration initiative for ex-Boko Haram fighters.

According to Amb. Mairo Musa Abbas, Head of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), none of the ex-combatants have returned to the battlefield after completing the six-month deradicalization program. Abbas attributed this success to the effective monitoring mechanism in place, which involves collaborators from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and traditional and religious leaders within the communities.

The repented fighters have acquired skills during their time in the camp, which they are now using to sustain themselves within their communities. Abbas noted that the “Borno Model,” a state-led strategy aimed at reintegrating individuals who left extremist groups like Boko Haram, has complemented the federal government’s efforts to promote peace in the country.

“We always said ‘Borno Model’ is a model of necessity, but we have recorded a lot of success with the Model because many repented fighters have been reunited with their families,” Abbas said.

Abbas called on governors in the Lake Chad region and stakeholders to harmonize their strategies to address common issues and ensure a unified approach to counter-terrorism efforts.