By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The gains recorded in re-integrating repentant insurgents into the society through the Operation Safe Corridor programme of the federal government have excited the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Habib Ahmed.
The NEMA chief said he was particularly impressed with the number of insurgents that have been successfully reintegrated back to society.
The policy was introduced to transform former fighters of the Boko Haram terrorist group who surrendered to the Nigerian government.
The project has been widely criticised by some Nigerians as well as victims of the repentant terrorists, who believe the insurgents should be made to pay for their crimes and not be pampered.
A few days ago, images of some repentant Boko Haram terrorists asking Nigerians to forgive them flooded the social media space and this sparked reactions, including from a widow of a senior military personnel killed.
But for Mr Ahmed, the decision to establish the Operation Safe Corridor is commendable and he assured that NEMA would continue to play its roles towards the mandates of the scheme.
Speaking when the coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General J.Y. Maina, visited the headquarters of the agency in Abuja, he said the use of the non-kinetic initiative of the federal government aimed at deradicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant insurgents was the right step in the right direction.
Earlier, Mr Maina explained that the visit was aimed at enhancing the existing partnership with NEMA, saying his team was determined to support the government achieve its aim.
Adedapo Adesanya