Adekola Adelani
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has revealed that over 60,000 children are among the 120,000 Boko Haram members who have surrendered to Nigerian authorities.
Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Monday, Musa highlighted the complexities of combating insurgency and the troubling tactics employed by the group, including forced conscription and the systematic use of women to bear a new generation of fighters.
“Not everyone that is part of it is a terrorist. Some of them were conscripted, some were forced, some were enslaved,” Musa explained.
He described the insurgents’ alarming strategy of impregnating women shortly after childbirth to normalise violence and perpetuate the cycle of terrorism. However, Musa expressed relief at the surrender of thousands, emphasizing the critical need for rehabilitation and reintegration efforts, particularly for children.
Those surrendering are being profiled in collaboration with the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and other agencies. While culpable individuals are prepared for trial, women, children, and the elderly are undergoing rehabilitation.
Musa reassured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to deradicalisation and lasting peace, declaring, “Nigeria is safe and will continue to be safe.”
