The chairman of the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative, PCNI, TY Danjuma, has expressed the committee’s support for the Operation Safe Corridor Programme, aimed at de-radicalisation of Boko Haram insurgents.
Mr Danjuma, a retired lieutenant-general, congratulated the military for the success so far recorded at decimating the activities of the insurgents.
Mr Danjuma, represented the vice chairman of PCNI, Tijjani Tumsa, made the statement when the coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, B.M Shafa and his team paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Thursday
He said the PCNI is currently spearheading a framework for transitional justice system for the North East and would support the Operation Safe Corridor programme which is a component of the security and peace programme of the present administration for the North East.
He assured the delegation that PCNI would facilitate meetings for successful integration of Boko Haram ex-combatants to their local government areas.
Mr Danjuma stated that the process of de-radicalization and integration of the Boko Haram ex-combatants should be handled with caution to avoid sending wrong signal to the distraught communities that lost loved ones.
Speaking earlier, the Coordinator, Operation Save Corridor, Mr Shafa appreciated the PCNI’s visit on two occasions to the Operation Save Corridor camp.
Mr Shafa, a major-general, said their visit was at the request of the Chief of Defense Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin to partner and seek assistant of the PCNI in areas of equipment for vocational training and fast-tracking the support of NEMA in the areas of food supplies.
While chronicling the activities of the Operation Save Corridor, he stated that 260 ex-Boko Haram combatants 260 are ready for integration into the society.
He noted that Adamawa and Bauchi states have already integrated some for their states, while Borno and Yobe state are in the process or reintegration of the remaining ones.
He said further that 150 new repentant Boko Haram insurgents are ready for the Operation Safe Corridor programme and assured the PCNI of its partnership with various International Development Partners for International best practices of of the de-radicalization process.
