In a major step toward stabilizing the North-East and promoting peace, the Yobe State Government has announced plans to reintegrate 390 repentant Boko Haram members who have completed the Federal Government’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor.
Governor Mai Mala Buni made the announcement on Thursday during a strategic meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other officials of Operation Safe Corridor in Damaturu, the state capital.
According to the governor, 54 of the 390 ex-combatants expected to graduate between April 14 and 19, 2025, are indigenes of Yobe State. The reintegration process will be coordinated by the state’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.
Governor Buni acknowledged the deep scars left by the 15-year insurgency, which has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, and destroyed critical infrastructure in the region. He emphasized the need for a multi-pronged approach to end the crisis.
“We cannot rely on military action alone. A non-kinetic approach is essential to addressing the root causes of insurgency,” Buni stated. “Many of the individuals involved in the insurgency were forcefully conscripted or manipulated through extremist ideologies. With the right support, they can be rehabilitated and reabsorbed into society.”
Buni lauded President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to a multifaceted strategy for tackling insecurity and emphasized the importance of community-based reintegration, vocational empowerment, and mental health support for former combatants.
In his remarks, General Christopher Musa emphasized the importance of involving local communities in sustaining reintegration gains. He noted that rehabilitation efforts can only succeed when returning individuals are accepted and supported at the grassroots level.
“De-radicalisation is not a one-time event. It requires ongoing community support, monitoring, and rehabilitation,” the Chief of Defence Staff explained. “We are calling on stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, and civil society groups, to participate actively in this effort.”
He also appealed to the Yobe State Government and development partners to expand rehabilitation centers and vocational training facilities, noting that upgraded infrastructure and modern equipment are critical to successful reintegration.
“With government and community support, more insurgents observing the transformation of their peers will be encouraged to surrender willingly,” Musa said.
While the reintegration initiative has received federal and state backing, it remains a subject of mixed reactions among locals, many of whom have suffered personal losses during the insurgency. Human rights groups have called for transparency, psychological screening, and proper monitoring of those being reintegrated.
In response to public concerns, Governor Buni assured that only individuals who have undergone thorough de-radicalization and posed no threat to society would be reintegrated. “The safety of our citizens remains our top priority. We are working closely with security agencies to ensure these individuals are fit for reintegration,” he said.
The governor also mentioned plans to engage the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in providing startup support for reintegrated individuals to help them contribute meaningfully to the economy.
The DRR program under Operation Safe Corridor was launched in 2016 by the Nigerian military to provide repentant Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters an opportunity to surrender, undergo rehabilitation, and reintegrate into society.
Since its inception, thousands of ex-fighters have passed through the programme, which includes religious re-orientation, psycho-social support, vocational training, and civic education.
Security analysts have noted that while the initiative contributes to peacebuilding, its long-term success depends on sustainable reintegration, access to economic opportunities, and addressing structural causes of extremism such as poverty, illiteracy, and governance failure.
As Yobe prepares to receive another batch of ex-Boko Haram members, the state stands at a critical juncture in its recovery journey. The success of this reintegration drive could set the tone for similar efforts across the insurgency-affected North-East region