In 2018, Eighty-five (85) reformed Boko Haram defectors were released by Operation Safe Corridor (OSC) of the Nigerian Army to the Borno State Government. They were initially placed in a transit camp to allow for proper arrangements for their reintegration into their respective communities. This approach aimed to ensure that close collaboration with the State Government would result in a well-planned, carefully executed, and seamless reintegration process.
However, the defectors were abruptly released from the transit camp without adequate plans for their reinsertion into the communities. This led to their rejection by many communities, resulting in most of them being returned to the transit camp. It became evident that the communities were either not informed about the defectors’ return or were unprepared to receive them.
A significant concern was the safety of the defectors, who risked being left vulnerable to an aggrieved population still reeling from the losses caused by Boko Haram’s activities. This raised fears of mob actions against the defectors, highlighting the urgent need for their safe and carefully monitored reintegration into the communities.
The key objectives of the project included the Mobilizing and deploying of fifteen (15) Community Peace Facilitators (CPFs) for rapid information tracking in twelve LGAs of return in Borno State. And Identifying ways to increase community acceptance of repentant and deradicalized Boko Haram members in the targeted areas of return.