Group debunks recruitment of ex- B/Haram fighters by military

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Coalition for Human Rights Monitoring Groups in Nigeria (CHRMGN) has described as false. speculation that the Nigerian military recruited repentant Boko Haram terrorists into its fold.
This is contained in a special report by the human right group, after embarking on a thorough investigation of the military’s recruitment process since 2015.
In the report signed by Helen Adeshina and Bitrus Hosea Damut, CHRMGN said 250 repentant Boko Haram fighters enrolled for the de-radicalization programme and were reabsorbed into their communities and not the military.
The report disclosed that 30 of the repentant Boko Haram fighters are fully engaged in religious activities aimed at discouraging the youths from going into crime and terrorist activities.
According to the group, the military’s recruitment process is transparent and devoid of interference from any quarters and as such there isn’t any room for ex-Boko Haram members.
The Coalition of Human Rights Monitoring Groups, however, urged the military to begin the process of informing the general public of its recruitment process.
It recommended that, ‘’ The leadership of the Nigerian Military should begin a sensitization programme in the media to educate members of the general public of its recruitment process in a bid to discourage rumors peddling by mischievous individuals and organizations.’’