Military interrogates 315 surrendered terrorists
The Federal Government yesterday, inaugurated a committee to oversee the successful reintegration of Boko Haram members, who have renounced the sect into the sane Nigerian society, with the mandate to within one month identify sources of funding and technical assistance needs of the repented terrorists, even as 315 terrorists that surrendered are being interrogated.

The Committee according to a statement from the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) signed by Group Captian Wap Maigida for acting Director of Defence Information (DDI) said the creation of the committee is in accordance with Presidential directive to see to the creation of a safe space in the society for their assimilation, with membership drawn from Governors of the Northeaster states, representatives in the Ministry of Defence other agencies of government and Defence headquarters, Police and other security agencies.

“Members of the committee comprise relevant federal government agencies involved in the counterinsurgency operation and representatives of states in the North East and Jigawa”.

Recall that the adoption of new strategies and operational designs to curb the insurgency and the gradual spread of terrorism attacks in the country, coupled with the Presidential directive to end the menace before the end of 2015, has yielded results with substantial part of the terrorists stronghold overran by the Nigerian military, with thousands of the members killed and hundreds others captured or willingly surrendering to the troops.

According to the statement, there is a category of repented terrorists that would be considered for reintegration, it said the the Presidential directive instructs the Committee to “oversee the creation of safe passageway into the mainstream Nigerian society for members of the Boko Haram terrorists.

“Boko Haram members penciled 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’s terms of reference include; to identify implementation partners and establish their responsibilities, to establish a framework for coordination of implementation agencies, to determine funding requirements and sources, to identify technical assistance needs and possible sources, to outline broad information strategies in collaboration with implementation agencies, to determine location of assembly areas, encampment sites, IDP Camps as well as safe corridors and routes, and, finally, to determine the overall security requirements and concerns in the counterinsurgency operation.”