Military rehabilitating 800 Boko Haram members in N/East, says NEMA

ABUJA—THE military is rehabilitating no fewer than 800 members of Boko Haram, who voluntarily laid down arms to embrace peace in the North East. Boko HAram militants arrested and paraded by Civilian JTF in Konduga during Gov. Shettima's visit File: Boko HAram militants arrested and paraded by Civilian JTF in Konduga during Gov. Shettima’s visit This came as the Senate fixed May 25, to pass the North East Development Commission, NEDC, Bill, pending before it. The repentant Boko Haram insurgents, according to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, yesterday, were undergoing vocational skills training under the supervision of the office of the Chief of Defence Staff. Alhaji Sani Sidi, Director General, DG, of NEMA, who disclosed this at a public hearing of a Bill on the NEDC in Abuja, said the ex-Boko Haram members were registered in a programme he referred to as ‘’Safe Corridor initiative.” The NEMA DG, who was responding to a question on the preparedness of the government towards rehabilitating repentant Boko Haram insurgents, said the programme was conceived to provide a leeway for repentant members of the sect to turn a new leaf. According to him: “It is not correct that the Federal Government does not have a plan for repentant sect members. The Federal Government has set up the safe corridor programme. I do know that over 800 sect members have been registered in it. They have exited the Boko Haram through the programme in line with the international best practice. They are at present receiving various skills acquisitions programme, which is being handled by the military. It is being handled by the Chief of Defence Staff.” Meanwhile, the Senate, yesterday, disclosed that it had fixed May 25,to pass the NEDC Bill, pending before it. Senate President, Bukola Saraki confirmed this after the Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Abdul-Aziz Murtala Nyako disclosed the bill. Saraki who spoke while declaring open the public hearing, organised by the committee, said for seven years, the people of North East had suffered untold destruction of both private and public properties worth billions of Naira. According to him: ”The North East has endured unprecedented pervasive brutality, satanic barbarism meted out against them.”

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