FG transfers 22 repentant Boko Haram terrorists to Borno psychiatric hospital
The federal government has transferred 22 repentant terrorists undergoing rehabilitation at the Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) Centre to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri, Borno State, for further evaluation and medical care.
This was disclosed during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja aimed at planning the smooth reintegration of rehabilitated individuals into society.
Brig Gen Yusuf Ali, the Coordinator of OPSC, stated that the affected individuals required specialised psychiatric attention as part of their rehabilitation process.
Since the programme’s inception in 2016, OPSC has successfully processed 2190 individuals, including 2163 Nigerians and 27 foreign nationals from Cameroon, Chad, and Niger Republic.
All foreign nationals have been repatriated to their respective countries.
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General Ali further revealed that between July and November 2024, 825 new clients were admitted into the camp for training, among whom were 14 foreigners from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
He explained the importance of structured reintegration plans for rehabilitated individuals upon graduation in March 2025.
Key objectives outlined during the meeting included ensuring stakeholders understand their roles in the reintegration process, determining suitable resettlement packages, and finalising community sensitization efforts.
The meeting also ratified the graduation date for the current batch undergoing rehabilitation.
Gen Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), opened the meeting by announcing that over 120,000 terrorists and their family members have surrendered since Operations Safe Corridor began in 2016.
Represented at the meeting by Air Vice Marshal Sayo Olatunde, Chief of Defence Policy and Plan, the CDS explained that the initiative was launched in response to the mass surrenders by Boko Haram and members of the Islamic State of West African Province.
He stated that the centre currently supports 789 ex-combatants—now referred to as clients—who are undergoing a de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration program. These individuals are expected to complete the program by the end of the year.
A key focus of the stakeholders’ meeting was to develop strategies for successfully reintegrating the first batch of 391 insurgents into their respective communities.
The CDS noted that once these individuals graduate from the program, each will receive personal items and startup packs tailored to the trade they trained in, enabling them to establish small businesses and begin new lives.
He urged state governments to provide additional support to ensure a smooth transition for these ex-combatants.
“Working closely with local and traditional authorities, states can use their security resources to effectively monitor the progress of those reintegrated,” he said.
He affirmed that all parties must actively participate to foster community resilience.
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