Nigerian Army, ONSA discuss how to handle repentant terrorists

Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, the country’s COAS, has urged Nigerians to actively participate in the fight against insurgency.

The call was made by Mr. Yahaya on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria, during a three-day seminar with the theme “Rehabilitation of Repentant Insurgents in Nigeria; Issues, Challenges, and Sustainability.”

The Nigerian Army Resource Center, Office of the National Security Adviser, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, and organized the seminar.
He claimed that the workshop was a component of a larger national effort to create a workable plan for the management of insurgents who have surrendered in the North East.
According to him, the kinetic efforts of the military, especially the Nigerian army, has led to the surrender of over 87,000 terrorists and their families in the region.

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He said that all those who surrendered had laid down their arms and embraced peace.

“As we celebrate this achievement, it is important we know that it has its numerous challenges on troops operational activities, logistic support and above all, the morale of those performing their constitutional roles in the region.

“There is also the issue of local populace’s acceptance of the repentant and surrendered terrorists back to their local communities, and also the effect of such mass surrender on the three tiers of government,” he said.

Mr Yahaya said the military, alongside other security agencies had performed creditably well to ensure that the surrounded insurgents were humanely treated.
He claims that this has been consistent with the military’s core values of treating everyone with respect, regardless of whether they have participated in crimes or killings.

He claimed that the army or security agencies had little to do with the rehabilitation and reintegration of the atrocity-committed terrorists.

These difficulties are in front of us, staring at us and our tactical allies. Each institution and organization must comprehend the current issue.

“The need to manage these turned-in ex-combatants while balancing that need with the needs of the communities and people who suffer as a result of their actions.
Above all, the COAS emphasized, “we must comprehend and be ready, willing, and able to perform our various roles for the benefit of the system and mankind.”

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Mr. Yahaya acknowledged that the task was difficult and enormous because it required that every activity be carried out simultaneously.

He warned that the armed forces remained dedicated to protecting the country and urged terrorists who were still hiding out in the bush to embrace peace.