Rehabilitated Boko Haram members numbering about 594 graduated from the Federal Government’s Operation Safe Corridor’s De-radicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration camp in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, Gombe State.
The graduates comprised of 590 Nigerians, 3 Nigeriens, and one Chadian.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the camp Commandant, Col. Uche Nnabuihe, said, “Fifteen clients hail from Adamawa, 495 from Borno, 16 from Yobe, 16 from Kano, 3 from Gombe, 13 from Kaduna, 1 from Kogi, 12 from Bauchi, 5 from Jigawa, 5 from Kastina, 4 from Kebbi, 1 from Nasarawa, 1 from Plateau and 2 from Zamfara states.”
According to the camp commandant, “588 clients are Muslims, while 6 are Christians.”
Nnabuihe went on to say, “They were trained in self-reliance skills after re-interpretation with their communities in this regard.” Eighty-five clients were trained as barbers, 81 clients as shoemakers, 158 clients as welders, and 213 clients as tailors.
“In addition, 38 clients were trained in carpentry, and 28 as laundry services. All of the clients took part in the required integrated farming and training activities, which included agro, poultry, and fish farming.”
Meanwhile, a repentant Boko Haram member, Muhammad Abba, during the graduation ceremony, apologised to Nigerians for their atrocities on various communities in the country.
On behalf of his colleagues he said, “We apologize to Nigerians and our various state governments, our communities and everyone seated here should extend our apology to all and sundry in the various communities we came from.
“We sincerely apologize and will not repeat this atrocity. We have sworn allegiance to our beautiful and peaceful country, Nigeria. We are all aware of the consequences of swearing an oath with the Qur’an or the Holy Bible. God will not be pleased if you break your oath and he will also punish you. Even if you escape Nigeria’s security agencies, you cannot escape God’s wrath.
Abba went on to say that the ex-insurgents would remain loyal to Nigeria and work for the country’s peace and stability. “We’ve learned a lot about religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in society; without peace, a child who says his mother will not sleep, he won’t sleep either.”
