FG to open new rehabilitation camp for bandits and terrorists

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FG to open new rehabilitation camp for bandits and terrorists

The Federal Government has hinted that the second Operation SAFE CORRIDOR Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Camp will soon be operational in the North-West region to encourage willing low-risk terrorists and bandits to lay down arms.

The first centre was established at Mallam Sidi in Gombe State.

The National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Major-General Adamu Garba Laka, disclosed this when he received delegation from the Alliance de Sahel from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger who were on a study tour of the centre.

Laka recalled that the deradicalisation of ex-combatants started in the Nigerian Correctional Service in 2015 and has been replicated in other custodial centres in the country due to its success.

The coordinator said: “The programme aims to deradicalise, rehabilitate and reintegrate low-risk members of the terrorist group, with the goal of remoulding them into better citizens of the nation.

“The camp has graduated almost 3,000 clients since inception. It is gladdening to inform you that the second Operation SAFE CORRIDOR DDR Camp will soon be operational in the Northwest region of Nigeria.”

He stressed that cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts was essential, as it allows countries to share information, resources and expertise.

Laka said Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin Republic demonstrated this cooperation both in kinetic and non-kinetic by agreeing to synergise their military efforts under the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and set up the Multinational Joint Task Force.

Meanwhile, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has vowed that his administration would not negotiate with terrorists.

He, however, said his government would welcome and integrate into society, any terrorist that renounces violence, and chooses to become a law-abiding citizen.

“We will not seek out terrorists in the forest to negotiate. However, if they voluntarily surrender, renounce violence, and choose to become law-abiding citizens, we are open to reintegrating them to society,” Radda clarified.