Sati Sheikh Kubenubu, Adigwe Austeen Ndubuisi, Ishaku Yakubu Mshelia

Keywords: Deradicalization, radicalization, rehabilitation, reintegration, repentant insurgents

Abstract

The study identifies and examines key activities in the process of deradicalization and rehabilitation of surrendered insurgents referred to as
clients at the Operation Safe Corridor Camp, in Malam Sidi, Gombe State,
Nigeria. The deradicalization and rehabilitation programme focused on
spiritual counselling, psychological intervention, vocational training and
drug rehabilitation. Using the containment theory, this study assesses successes and challenges of Operation Safe Corridor in fulfilling its
mandate of rehabilitating the repentant insurgents and encouraging
defection from the bush. Findings reveal that the programme has recorded successes such as the increase in the number of those leaving the bush and embracing the “safe corridor” with a zero rate of recidivism. However, information about the camp is highly confidential due to the nature of the programme. This has created gaps in the reintegration process as host communities have mixed feelings as to how genuine is the repentance of
the surrendered insurgents. The study concludes that there is need for the
general public and the members of the communities to be carried along
especially by creating a National Coordinating office that would bridge the information gap and harmonize all the reconciliation processes towards
finding a lasting solution to the conflict in the North East.

Author Biography

Sati Sheikh Kubenubu

Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Gombe State University, Nigeria Email: [email protected]

Adigwe Austeen Ndubuisi 

Department of International Relations, Airforce Institute of Technology, AFIT Kaduna, Nigeria Email: [email protected]

Ishaku Yakubu Mshelia 

No. 13 JT Hussaini Way Life Camp, Abuja FCT Email: [email protected]

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