The Federal Authorities has graduated 744 ex-combatants and victims of violent extremism who accomplished a six-month deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme on the DRR Camp in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State.
With the newest batch, the variety of rehabilitated contributors—now known as shoppers—has risen to over 3,000 because the initiative started a couple of decade in the past.
The programme, applied underneath Operation Protected Hall, is designed to supply a pathway for disengagement from extremism and reintegration into society.
Talking on the commencement ceremony, the Chief of Defence Workers, Olufemi Oluyode, represented by Rear Admiral Kabiru Tanimu, emphasised that the initiative just isn’t an amnesty programme however a strategic intervention to cut back violence and forestall future radicalisation.
“This isn’t a reward however a deliberate technique to cut back violence, weaken extremist recruitment, and promote long-term stability,” he mentioned.
He added that whereas navy operations stay important, lasting peace requires addressing the foundation causes of extremism by means of non-kinetic approaches resembling rehabilitation and reintegration.
The Coordinator of the programme, Brigadier Normal Yusuf Ali, defined that contributors underwent complete coaching, together with psychosocial help, vocational expertise, civic training, and behavioural reorientation.
He famous that most of the beneficiaries had been both coerced, kidnapped, or drawn into battle on account of circumstances past their management.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, represented by Ambassador Yusuf Musa, described the initiative as a powerful demonstration of the federal government’s dedication to peacebuilding and nationwide stability.
He urged the graduates to embrace the chance as a recent begin and contribute positively to society.
Equally, the Director-Normal of Nationwide Emergency Administration Company, Zubaida Umar, represented by Suleiman Abdullahi, highlighted the position of collaboration and strategic planning in reaching the programme’s success.
The most recent batch of graduates was drawn from 5 geopolitical zones in Nigeria, in addition to contributors from neighbouring West African and Sahel nations.
By Linus Aleke
Times Nigeria