“It is with great pride and hope that we gather today to celebrate this progress towards peace and reconciliation“, declared during a “reintegration” ceremony General Mahamadou Ibrahim Bagadoma, governor of the Diffa region (south-east).
The 124 ex-combatants, including 44 minors, were “trained in several socio-professional sectors” and we received “their certificates of exemption from legal proceedings”specified the Ministry of the Interior.
The national coordinator of stabilization and surrender programs for ex-combatants, Malan Goni Ibrahim, congratulated the repentants and stressed that “by agreeing to lay down their arms, (they) made a courageous choice in favor of peace and the reconstruction of our country”.
“You now bear a heavy responsibility towards your brothers and sisters who remained in the bush”continued Mr. Malan Goni, urging former militiamen to help continue the demobilization of combatants still active.
“More than 700” repentants of Boko Haram have already passed through the Goudoumaria deradicalization and professional training center, operational since 2017, Niger state television reported.
With this sixth wave of reintegration, the military in power since the coup d’état are continuing the work of demobilizing combatants.
AFP
