Minister of Defense Christopher Musa has defended Nigeria’s rehabilitation and reintegration program for former insurgents, stressing that those being rehabilitated were coerced into terrorism rather than being hardened terrorists.
In his remarks about Operation Safe Corridor, Musa stated that international law mandates the humane treatment of surrendered fighters and highlighted that authorities carefully distinguish between those forced into terrorist groups and actual combatants responsible for heinous acts.
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He explained that individuals emerging from insurgent camps fall into three categories: those conscripted under the threat of death, those used as labor by terrorists, and active combatants involved in attacks. “The ones who were enslaved and conscripted were forced into it; it was not a voluntary decision,” he clarified.
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Musa noted that many victims faced the choice of joining the terrorists after their communities were invaded or facing death. He emphasized that those who have committed terrorist acts do not undergo rehabilitation but are detained, investigated, and prosecuted. “We are not rewarding criminal behavior; it would be foolish to do so,” he asserted.
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The defense chief mentioned that participants in the rehabilitation program receive counseling, education, and vocational training before returning to their communities, which continue to be monitored afterward.
He acknowledged the pain experienced by insurgency victims but maintained that reconciliation is essential for sustainable peace, recalling one victim who had lost nine family members but was still willing to forgive for the sake of regional harmony.
