Following the recent outcry of the Nigerian soldiers over the release of about one thousand, four hundred, (1,400) repentant Boko Haram terrorists by the Federal Government, Onyema Nwachukwu has stated that the aim is to rehabilitate and reintegrate repentant members of the terror group back into the society which is in line with ‘Operation safe Corridor’.
The Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Onyema, also said that the release of the captured terrorists was under the direct supervision of the defense headquarters and managed in conjunction with 13 civil organization’s which includes UNICEF, International Office on Migration (IOM) and relevant government ministries and security agencies.
Some of the soldiers faulted the Federal Government over the increase of the terror group, stating that they do not know why the terrorists were being released in large numbers.
Speaking to Newsmen, the soldiers lamented that they are not happy about the whole thing, adding that they were at Maimalari barracks when some of these Boko Haram people were released.
“The authorities are releasing them, but Boko Haram is killing soldiers that they capture. This does not make sense to us at all.
We continue to sweep across the bushes to flush these people out, and then the government will release them. Does that not amount to wasted efforts?”
Another soldier said he believes most of the released suspects find their way back to crime. “You wonder why Boko Haram members are on the increase? When we arrest them and bring them here, some top people would come and start negotiating their release.
But, I will tell you some of these so-called suspects are returning to the bush and they were never repentant.”
Meanwhile, Onyema in response has confirmed that they’ve made some releases, adding that people should know what the operation is about.
Onyema in his words: “It’s not that we capture Boko Haram suspects and then go back and release them.
“The operation is under the direct supervision of the defense headquarters and managed in conjunction with 13 civil organizations.
“The civil organizations involved in the operation include UNICEF, International Office on Migration (IOM) and relevant government ministries and security agencies. Not left out of the oversight structure of the operation is the Gombe state govt where the DRR facility is located.
“As a testimony to the effectiveness of the Safe Corridor initiative, so far, about 800 ex Boko Haram fighters who would have unleashed unimaginable terror on citizens have been admitted and out of which 287 of them have been successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated into society, with many still undergoing the DRR program,” he said.
“At the launch of the operation in 2016, the military said the aim is to rehabilitate and reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members back into society” Onyema added.
Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obionwannem News
