Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor delivering his lecture during the occasion
By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
Within the period of about one-year: July 2021 to May 2022, no less than 51, 828 Boko Haram fighters and their families have surrendered to the Federal Government.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor made the disclosure while delivering the 7th Founders’ Day lecture of the Edo State University Uzairue, weekend.
Delivering the lecture titled: ‘National Defence Policy And Transitional Justice Approach In The War Against Insurgency In Nigeria’ Irabor stated that within the period, “no fewer than 51, 828 Boko Haram and their family members have surrendered, out of which 13, 360 are fighters”.
Further, he informed that 1, 543 repentant terrorists have so far graduated from Mallam Sidi camp in Gombe State between 2016 and 2022, while 1, 935 have been released from the camp in Bulumkutu, Maiduguri.
According to the CDS, the positive story was made possible due to the creation of ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ as a transitional justice approach; similar to the Niger Delta Amnesty programme launched by the Federal Government in 2009; which involved the setting up of special facilities where repentant terrorists who surrendered their arms can be rehabilitated.
“The programme offers numerous opportunities and participants are scheduled for vocational training to ease their reintegration into the society.”
Gen. Irabor said however, despite the modest successes recorded by ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ in the fight against crime, the programme still faces a lot of challenges.
He listed some of the challenges to include the lack of specialised training experts and inadequate physical structure; inadequate collaboration and coordination; absence of appropriate legislation on reintegration; low agency and international participation as well as ineffective monitoring system.
He however identified the way forward to include; train-the-trainers programme and establishment of special fund for Deradicalization, Reintegration and Reorientation (DRR), establishment of a national commission for DRR, enacting of a DRR Act, building of strategic partnerships and adoption of a whole-of-society approach, to monitoring.
Concluding; he pointed out that in any counter insurgency, transitional justice plays a key role in healing wounds such as in the Nigerian Civil War and the Niger Delta crisis; adding that ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ has achieved some degree of successes which could be built upon.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Engr. Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor commended the State governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comr. Philip Shaibu for their continuous support and the enabling environment for the Institution to thrive.
Prof. Aluyor also thanked the guest lecturer, Gen. Irabor for accepting to deliver this year’s Founder’s day lecture and for finding the time to come down.
Requesting the Guest lecturer to take a tour of the University, the Vice Chancellor asserted that its beauty was not just the architectural masterpiece, but the content and facilities available; for teaching and research.
The lectures over the years have gradually shaped the outlook of the University’s Founder’s day ceremony which both students and parents now look forward to as a platform where important issues on how Nigeria can be harnessed into a country of citizens’ collective dreams are delivered, Prof. Aluyor noted.
“Edo State University Uzairue since inception have been committed to pursuit of world class goals in teaching, learning and research which is why we are proud of our products” he added.
He further asserted that last year some of the lecturers and researchers were listed among the first 500 researchers in Nigeria while the nursing and medical laboratory students recorded 100 percent successes in their Council’s examinations.
The Vice Chancellor particularly thanked Governor Obaseki for upgrade of the general hospital, Auch to Edo State University Uzairue Teaching Hospital, which he said contributed to the full accreditation of the MBBS programme of the University, by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
“We are not resting in taking the University to a greater hieght as we plan to open up new programmes such as Pharmacy and post graduate programmes; in other areas to compliment what we already have on ground.”
Also speaking; Edo State Governor and Visitor to the University, Godwin Obaseki represented by Hon. Inusa Imhonopi commended the Management for the successful hosting of this year’s Founder’s day.
He assured that the administration of Governor Obaseki is consistent in chatting a progressive course for the University, urging the Management to ensure it remained on top, among equals.
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