The Nigerian military has announced the release of 244 Boko Haram militants after they denounced their membership after a successful rehabilitation program. Their release from Maiduguri military barracks was done to mark Nigeria’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Nigerian army operation commander Maj. Gen. Rogers Nicholas said Tuesday that those released Monday included 118 adult males, 56 women, 19 teens and 51 children. He said they were freed after they were screened and denounced the Nigeria-based insurgency.
Nigeria’s government established a de-radicalization program in 2016 that offers amnesty for those who repudiated the group. The efforts were in a mid to lure the fighters that were coerced or looking to leave the group and reintegrate into the community. Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 people during its eight-year insurgency.
