ABUJA, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's de-radicalization program will help former Boko Haram militants to better reintegrate into the society and maintain peace in the area, a United Nations official said on Monday.
The De-radicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) program is a critical peacebuilding initiative, said Edward Kallon, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, during his visit to the DRR camp in the northeastern state of Gombe, adding that it has "brought on board the best global practices."
"I commend their efforts at ensuring that these ex-combatants are de-radicalized, rehabilitated, and reintegrated back to the society, to make meaningful contributions to their communities," Kallon said.
He also pledged the UN's support for the program, especially in the area of "quality improvement."
The program is a cooperation between the government, military, and other ministries, departments, and agencies. It aims to de-radicalize and rehabilitate repentant Boko Haram terrorists, in a bid to win the war against insurgency.
In July, 601 ex-militants were reintegrated into the society after undergoing the DRR program.
Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria since 2009, extending its attacks to countries in the Lake Chad Basin, posing enormous security, humanitarian and governance challenges to countries including Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger. Enditem
