The Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja disclosed that, between 2016 and 2022, a total of 1,935 repentant Boko Haram terrorists, having undergone deradicalization, were reintegrated into Nigerian society from the Bulumkutu camp in Borno State. This revelation was made by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, during a lecture titled “Non-Kinetic Operations and the Nigerian Armed Forces.” He delivered the lecture at the opening session of a national security course focused on “Psychological Operations and Strategic Communication (PSYOPS),” organized by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Represented by Rear Admiral Daupreye Matthew, Director of Training at Defence Headquarters, Gen. Musa asserted that the military remains committed to the non-kinetic approach in addressing insecurity challenges. Operation Safe Corridor, part of these efforts, led to the surrender of over 2,000 Boko Haram members between 2016 and 2017. Notably, 67% of those who surrendered belonged to the Abubakar Shekau faction of the insurgents. Furthermore, 1,543 repentant terrorists graduated from Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State, while 1,935 were released from the Bulumkutu camp in Borno between 2016 and 2022.
In the period from July 2021 to May 4, 2022, alone, an additional 51,828 terrorists and their family members surrendered, with 13,360 identified as fighters. This brought the cumulative number of terrorists and their family members who have surrendered in the North East to 106,000. The Chief of Defence Staff highlighted these statistics during the national security course, emphasizing the significance of the non-kinetic approach in addressing the complex challenges posed by insurgency.
The national security course, organized by the DIA, spanned five days and aimed to enhance the understanding of security experts regarding the dynamics of psychological operations and strategic communication. The theme of the program, “Winning Hearts and Minds for National Cohesion and Development,” underscored the importance of effective communication strategies in achieving broader national objectives.
