DHQ Update:  OPSC reintegrates 280 ex- Boko Haram combatants back to society

By Augustine Osayande PhD

The Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) has successfully reintegrated 280 ex- Boko Haram combatants including 2 Chadians back into the society through their respective national and state authorities

The Coordinator Defence Media Operations Defence Headquarters Major General John Enenche disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday at briefing on operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies.

He said the OPSC has admitted 893 ex-combatants for the Programme out of which 280 including 2 Chadians have been successfully reintegrated back into the society through their respective national and state authorities. Enenche further stated that there are 603 of ex- Boko Haram combatants presently undergoing the De-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Re-Integration (DRR) Programme and would be graduating by July 2020.

He said the Operation is a success story as feedbacks from those reintegrated are positive. “A particular one in Bama who learnt barbing as a vocation has successfully empowered 4 locals and is happily married with children,” Enenche said.

The Coordinator Defence Media Operations added that the concept of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) is that of a unique non-kinetic operation aimed at giving hope to ex-combatants who willingly give up their arms to embrace peace.

He said it is a Defence Headquarters (DHQ)-led multi-agency humanitarian effort based on De-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Re-Integration (DRR) of ex-combatant Boko Haram members that willingly surrender, which was established in September 2015 and became operational in 2016.

Enenche said the OPSC is guided by among other provisions such as International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws and it is being administered by 468 staff drawn from 17 organizations including the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), Law Enforcement and Security Agencies, other Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) including North East Development Commission (NEDC) as well as locals from Gombe, where the DRR camp is located.

He explained that the scheme also enjoys widespread collaboration and support of local and international NGOs. According to the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, key implementation partners are United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), International Organization for Migration (IOM), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department For International Development (DFID), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and North-East Regional Initiative (NERI).

He said the deradicalization is the first stage of the programme after medical screening including taking of DNA sample is conducted and it covers; psychotherapy, psycho-spiritual counseling, drug abuse intervention, art therapy, sports/recreation and introduction to western education to counter the BHT ideology.

Enenche also explained that the rehabilitation package of the programme include; training in barbing, carpentry, cosmetology, farming, leatherworks, shoe making, tailoring and welding. He said they will be issued with starter packs (basic tools) and provided with take off funds.

He also stated that the reintegration aspect of the DRR programme is the most delicate and longest phase that lasts beyond the camp. “It entails transitional justice initiative involving family linkage with the assistance of IOM and UNICEF among others. Administration of Oath of Allegiance is also conducted at this stage. The panel is headed by a judge of the Federal High Court with members drawn from relevant agencies,” Enenche said

He further stated that gleaning from the concept and conduct of Operation SAFE CORRIDOR, it is not a process of assembling raw repentant ex-combatants to inject back into the society by the Military but an international best practice for conflict management backed by relevant laws with the concurrence of key stakeholders such as international organizations and MDAs among others.