Former Boko Haram terrorists and their wives who recently denounced membership of the group and surrendered to troops in Niger Republic have arrived Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State.
The ex-terrorists arrived the Maiduguri airport on Wednesday in a military aircraft accompanied by Nigerian soldiers led by Major Gen. Bamidele Shafa, the coordinator of the Federal Government Safe Corridor programme.
Speaking on arrival with the ‘repentant’ terrorists, Shafa said, “We have just delivered 25 persons, comprising men, women, and children”.
He added that the ex-Boko Haram members laid down their arms and surrendered to the Nigerien government, which contacted the Nigerian government to take them home.
“So we have brought them home safely and handed them to the Borno State government for onward rehabilitation as part of the Operation Safe Corridor de-radicalization programme.
“We are using this opportunity to encourage those that are still in the bush to come out because the president of the Federal Republic has given them an open arm to drop their weapons and embrace peace.”
The Borno State Commissioner of Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, who received the returnees said the state government will provide them with the necessary psychosocial support, feed them, clothe them, and give them some form of education and skills acquisition.
She disclosed that a centre had been equipped by the state governor, Babagana Zulum, with skills acquisition tools that will enable them to gain skills “before they are reunited with their families.
