By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has disclosed that her ministry had being able to rehabilitate and reintegrate surrendered insurgents in the North East of the country.
Farouq said this at a 3-Day Seminar on Rehabilitation of Repentant Insurgents in the North East, organised by the Ministry and Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the Nigeria Army Resource Centre, in Abuja.
She explained that the Ministry as a member of Operation Safe Corridor National Steering Committee has contributed immensely to the non-kinetic strategy of managing surrendered insurgents for their rehabilitation and reintegration process.
“Food and non-food items, including starter packs, have been contributed for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the ex-combatants directly by the Ministry and some of its Agencies like (NEDC, NEMA, NCFRMI).”
The Minister represented by the Permanent Secretary , Dr Nasir Sani- Gwarzo, mni, disclosed that the Ministry has identified victims of terrorism with the view to identifying and providing the needed psychosocial support to the affected persons.”
She noted that the Ministry has adopted the United Nations principle of Tripple Nexus approach which is humanitarian response, development and peace building.
The minister said that the 3 Day Seminar is aimed at examining modalities for proper management of surrendered terrorists, adding that the insurgency has brought about untold hardship, destruction and loss of lives to the people of the North East adding that the 3-Day seminar is aimed at finding out ways to managing surrendered terrorist in the North East.
She urged participants to take the seminar serious and give it the best attention it deserves promising that the ministry will provide the necessary support needed to alleviate the conditions of the vulnerable persons.
The Chief of Army Staff ( CoAS), Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya in his welcome address stated that the kinetic efforts of the military has led to the surrendering of over 87,000 terrorists and their families in the N/E who have laid down their arms and embraced peace.
The responsibilities for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the repentant insurgents goes beyond the responsibilities of the military and security agencies, Lt. Gen. Yahaya stated.
He called on both the military and relevant stakeholders to cooperate and perform their roles to win the war against terrorism in Nigeria because the task is enormous and the time is of essence.
Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum, represented by his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Brig. Gen., A. Sabi Ishaq, (RTD), gave an overview of the management and reintegration of surrendered Boko Haram and Islamic West Africa Province terrorists in the North East.
He discussed the operations and activities of the insurgents and reasons for their mass surrender and how they were encouraged to drop their guns and embrace peace.
He emphasized the need for more support from the Federal government and Donor agencies towards the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant insurgents.
Director General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Maj. Gen. G.A Wahab (RTD), stressed the need on how to manage the huge number of repentant insurgents before their reintegration into the society.
Those who attended the seminar include Representatives of State governments, Ambassadors, representative of MDAs, Military and Security Agencies, Office of the NSA, Resource persons and CSOs/ NGOs.
