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BORNO: Army clears 151 ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members to rejoin society, says they’re now ‘good citizens’

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Borno State Government on Monday received no less than 151 former Boko Haram terrorists from the Nigeria Army for rehabilitation and re-integration into the society.

Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Shafa, the Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, handed over the repentant insurgents to Borno State government at the Bulunkutu Rehabilitation Center, Maiduguri.

He said the repentant terrorists comprised 132 adult males and 19 minors, also males. He added that they completed 52 weeks of de-radicalization process at Army center in Gombe.

According to him, the former Boko Haram members, aside being exposed to formal literacy classes, were also trained on skills acquisition and Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK). He said that they also underwent drug rehabilitation and psychotherapy during their training.

He explained that the process was anchored by Operation Safe Corridor, which was designed to encourage Boko Haram insurgents to surrender, and provide de-radicalization and rehabilitation programme for them so that they can rejoin the society.

He said, “The clients confessed their past misdeeds; denounced membership of Boko Haram group, asked for forgiveness and took oath of allegiance to Nigeria. I believe they are now good citizens to rejoin the society.”

READ ALSO: 2 feared dead as Nigerian Shi’ites allegedly set NEMA building on fire

Receiving the repentant insurgents, Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, lauded the Muhammadu Buhari-led government for the implementation of Operation Safe Corridor.

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