The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has pledged to support Operation Safe Corridor (OSC), a government initiative aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant Boko Haram insurgents. This commitment was made during a recent visit by OSC Coordinator, Yusuf Ali, to NOA’s headquarters in Abuja.
NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu acknowledged previous misconceptions about the program but now recognizes its importance for national peace and security. He emphasized that many insurgents were victims of abduction or manipulation rather than ideological extremists.
The NOA DG stressed the need for community-based reintegration, citing the risks of isolation and vulnerability without local and government support. He called for increased public education to counter negative narratives and promote national unity.
OSC Coordinator Ali highlighted the program’s nearly decade-long operation, supported by UN agencies, state governments, and traditional rulers. He emphasized the need for both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to address insecurity and expressed concern about stigmatization hindering reintegration.
