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Military Not Responsible For Radicalization of Repentant Boko Haram - Major General Bamidele

The military is not responsible for the de-radicalization of repentant Boko Haram, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Major-General Shafar Bamidele has said.

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The military is not responsible for the de-radicalization of repentant Boko Haram, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Major-General Shafar Bamidele has said.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the National Conversation on the Humanitarian Development Peace Nexus, in Abuja, he said the Nigeria Prisons Service was responsible for the de-radicalization job.

"The Nigeria Prisons Service is in charge of the de-radicalization of the repentant Boko Haram members", he said. "They sent in 130 experts to do the job."

Major-General Bamidele said the National Orientation Agency, National Emergency Management Agency, National Directorate of Employment and the Nigeria Immigration Service are also involved in the Operation Safe Corridor program.

He explained that the selection of Boko Haram members to be de-radicalized is done by the Operation Lafia Dole who ensure that those admitted in were not on the government's wanted list.

According to him, 254 repentant insurgents are undergoing de-radicalization currently while 150 will be added in the next two weeks.

He disclosed that 95 have already went through the programme and were now being integrated into the society.

He called on the government to grant the repentant insurgents amnesty, adding that this will allow them to easily reintegrate into the society.

Speaking on the alleged rape and sexual assault cases by the military in the Northeast, Major-General Bamidele said that "we don't compromise discipline and anybody found guilty will be punished."

Topics
Boko Haram