NOA Pushes Grassroots Support for Boko Haram
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has emphasized the strategic importance of reintegrating repentant Boko Haram members as a pathway to lasting peace and national security.
Issa-Onilu made the statement during a courtesy visit by the coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor (OSC), Yusuf Ali, and his team to the NOA headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement posted on the agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, Issa-Onilu acknowledged that he once held reservations about the initiative due to limited information. However, after gaining a clearer understanding of OSC’s mission, he now fully supports its objectives and rationale.
“I now understand the logic behind the programme,” Issa-Onilu stated. “Reintegration is not just a humanitarian response—it is a national security strategy. Many of the so-called insurgents were not ideologically driven; they were victims of abduction, coercion, and manipulation during the insurgency in the North-East.”
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The NOA boss described the OSC initiative as critical to national peace and commended the efforts of the military and security agencies. He called for enhanced public sensitization to dispel misinformation and foster acceptance of rehabilitated individuals.
Issa-Onilu also emphasized the necessity of community-based reintegration, warning that without grassroots and governmental support, former insurgents may become isolated and susceptible to relapse.
In his remarks, OSC Coordinator Yusuf Ali underscored the importance of both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in addressing the country’s complex security challenges. He expressed concern over the stigmatization and disinformation surrounding ex-insurgents, which he said hampers reintegration and national unity.
Ali urged greater collaboration between stakeholders to build public trust in the programme and sustain progress toward peace and stability.
Operation Safe Corridor is a federal government initiative aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating former insurgents into society through psychological support, vocational training, and civic education.
The conversation around its effectiveness remains a subject of national debate, but stakeholders agree that reintegration plays a pivotal role in securing long-term peace in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.
Content Credit | Oyedepo Olufufedoyinsola
Image Credit | thecable.ng
