Nigerian govt releases 5,000 ex-Boko Haram terrorists

The National Counter Terrorism Centre, under the Office of the National Security Adviser, has confirmed that over 5,000 former Boko Haram fighters have successfully rejoined their families after undergoing a rehabilitation programme.

According to officials, none of the ex-combatants have returned to militancy since completing the six-month deradicalization process.
Ambassador Mairo Musa Abbas, Head of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), shared this update during the second day of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum.

Speaking during a panel discussion titled “Managing Boko Haram Exits and Demobilization of Armed Groups,” Abbas emphasized the need for a unified strategy among Lake Chad region governors to tackle common security challenges.

She highlighted the success of the Operation Safe Corridor initiative, which provides rehabilitation and reintegration support for former Boko Haram members.

“Under the Operation Safe Corridor program, we have deradicalized over 5,000 ex-combatants of Boko Haram and reunited them with their families,” she stated.

“They are using the skills acquired during the six-month deradicalization program to sustain themselves within their communities.”

She also noted the involvement of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), alongside traditional and religious leaders, in monitoring reintegrated individuals across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

Abbas further commended the “Borno Model,” a state-led initiative designed to reintegrate individuals who have renounced extremism, stating that it has significantly contributed to national peace efforts.

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

She urged Lake Chad region governors and stakeholders to align their strategies for a more coordinated approach to reintegration and regional security.