Political Briefs
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THE Nigerian Army has said that Boko Haram members who have surrendered and shown remorse will be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society. The military, according to the BBC, said that more than 800 militants from the sect would be profiled, documented and offered training in new skills at several camps currently being set up by the federal government.
Rabe Abubakar, army spokesman, said there would be two or three camps by the military, the locations of which would be made public when they are officially launched in the next few months. “They will be very big and all facilities will be put in place… to rehabilitate them to become good members of society,” he said.
The programme, known as Operation Safe Corridor, hopes to persuade others who are yet to renounce their membership of the jihadi group to do so. He said other government agencies would be involved in this new de-radicalisation programme. Asked if the repentant militants would be paid whilst they underwent training, Abubakar said, “I believe the government will definitely ask the relevant agencies to do what is needful.”
On questions about whether those who surrendered would be tried or given amnesty, he said that things needed to be taken pace by pace. “The most important thing for us is to have them rehabilitated. Since they have shown remorse and come on board, I think it is our duty to ensure that we help them to become very productive members of this great country.”
The army has been criticised in the past for its treatment of Boko Haram insurgents and suspects. Last June, Amnesty International said that 7,000 young men and boys had died in military detention in Nigeria since 2011. The seven-year insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria has killed some 20,000 people and forced more than 2.6 million from their homes.
— Apr 18, 2016 @ 01:00 GMT
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