BY RAPHAEL EKPANG,ABUJA
SENATOR IBRAHIM GAIDAM representing YOBE EAST SENATORIAL district at the senate has explained the reason why he is sponsoring a bill for an Act to establish National Agency for the Education, De-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Repentant Insurgents
SEN. GAIDAM said the concept of de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant insurgents are global best practice, and therefore Nigeria should not be left behind in adopting generally acceptable concept.
According to him, “Countries like; Britain, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Somalia, Pakistan, Syria and Iraq have formulated various models of de-radicalization and rehabilitation programmes to combat the menace of radicalization with success.
GAIDAM made this known while addressing newsmen Tuesday in Abuja.
Recalled that, on Thursday a bill for an Act to establish National Agency for the Education, De-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Repentant Insurgents sponsored by GAIDAM passed first reading at the senate.
He noted that Boko Haram is becoming increasingly aggressive since its inception in 2009, marked by extreme brutality and explicit targeting of civilians, resulting in continued infliction of massive casualty on citizens, particularly in Northeast Nigeria.
He said, “It has become necessary for us to go to the drawing board and adopt an alternative approach, in addition to the military option which has so far performed significantly well.
“There is no doubt to that many members of the insurgents group have defected and many more are willing to repent given a window of opportunity and this is confirmed by many organizations including NGOs that have unalloyed access to Boko Haram.
“There is a the need for a more strategic and comprehensive approach to entice those members of the group who, after realizing the futility of the course they are pursuing have eventually decided to voluntarily lay down their arms and chose the path of peace” GAIDAM said.
He reiterated the need for the establishment of the agency to accommodate the defectors.
