About 559 repentant Boko Haram members have graduated from the Federal Government’s de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and re-integration (DRR) programme.

The DRR programme was established by the Federal Government in 2015 to deradicalise and reintegrate the ex-Boko Haram fighters into society.

The repentant members swore an oath of allegiance to the Federal Government during the event which was held on Sunday, in Gombe State.

Joseph Maina, Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, said over 1,000 ex-Boko Haram fighters have graduated from the programme and reintegrated into society.

He said the repentant fighters went through various rebuilding activities of the programme and had successfully undergone a series of medical screening, psychological and psycho-spiritual counselling, sports therapy, drug abuse counselling, western education and vocational training.

“Since September 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari established the Operation Safe Corridor to encourage willing and repentant Boko Haram members to surrender and go through a well-structured rehabilitation and deradicalisation and reintegration programmes,” he said.

“Since the DRR camp became fully operational, a total of 1,070 ex-combatants have gone through the programme and have been reintegrated into society.

“Another set of 559 class will graduate from the programme and will be reintegrated into their communities.”

Adeyemi Yekini, a Maj. Gen who represented Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff, asked the repentant Boko Haram members to appreciate and reciprocate the confidence reposed in them as “worthy beneficiaries of our DDR programme.”

“As you turn to your communities for your integration stage, I urge you all to brace up for the challenges ahead.