The Nigerian military has defended the criticisms that keep coming in following the controversial Operation Safe Corridor programme to rehabilitate repentant Boko Haram members.
Led by Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Operation Safe Corridor was launched in 2016 to encourage Boko Haram terrorists to surrender.
A total number of 881 ‘repentant’ former insurgents have been released since the programme was established and many Nigerians have shown their disapproval of the initiative.
However, DHQ Spokesperson Major-General John Enenche during a media briefing on Thursday, August 6, 2020, stated that those released are regarded as Boko Haram victims because they were conscripted forcefully.
These individuals were duly profiled and confirmed to be; low risk and not low-risk repentants, who were ascertained to be innocent and forcefully conscripted to join the sects and are categorised as victims.”
Boko Haram has reportedly killed more than 30,000 persons and displaced over 2.5 million in the northern region of the country.
