Nigeria military inaugurates reintegration committee

Abuja. Nigeria military has inaugurated a national committee to workout modalities for the smooth reintegration of repentant Boko Haram fighters.

A statement by Grp. Capt. Wap Maigida for the acting Director of Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said the committee inaugurated by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, was given one month to complete its assignment.

The statement said the outcome of the assignment would facilitate the establishment of the necessary structures and receptive centres to resettle repentant terrorist members.

According to the statement, membership of the committee comprises relevant federal government agencies involved in the counter-insurgency operation and representatives of states in the North East region and Jigawa state. The committee’s terms of reference include identifying implementation partners and establishing their responsibilities, among others.

Boko Haram members pencilled for reintegration are those forcefully conscripted into the group and those who have already surrendered and given up their membership of the sect and those willing to renounce their membership.

The committee would establish a framework for coordination of implementation agencies, to determine funding requirements and sources, to identify technical assistance needs and possible sources.

It would outline broad information strategies in collaboration with implementation agencies, to determine location of assembly areas, encampment sites. ``And to finally determine the overall security requirements and concerns in the counter-insurgency operation, ’’ it said.(NMG)