560 Repentant Boko Haram fighters begins training in Borno

560 repentant Boko Haram militants have just started training in Maiduguri, Borno State, North-East Nigeria, for the 8th cohort of the re-integration of low-risk and minors.

The fundamental objective of the training is to foster their capacity for life outside the camp. The reintegration training will be conducted for a period of 6 to 9 months.

According to Brigadier General Abdullah Ishaq retired, who is the Borno State Special Adviser on Security Affairs, the trainees will be introduced to trades on different skills, before they are finally taken back to their respective communities.

He says they will be receiving lectures for 2 weeks from academicians, the police, the National Orientation Agency, religious leaders and other relevant sectors of the society.

They will also receive Starter packs at the end of the programme, before being returned to their communities who had screened them for the training.

My message has always been, as soon as they get back to the community, they should be involved in whatever activities the community is doing, be it Naming Ceremonies, Burials, Jumat prayers, they should all work together.”

Within the 3 years of the programme, so much has been achieved, in terms of people returning to farm, and the general gradual return of peace.