Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Retired
General Lucky Irabor, has refuted claims that repentant Boko Haram
terrorists are being absorbed into the Nigerian armed forces.
The former defence chief said the idea is a
misconception with no basis in reality.
“It has always been a burden for me where we got this
impression from. How can they be recruited? This does not exist,” Irabor
said.
‘Practically Impossible’ for Repentant
Terrorists to Enter Military – Irabor
General Irabor, who previously held several top
command positions, said his years of service make it clear that such
recruitment cannot happen.
“Before I became CDS, I was Theatre Commander,
Operation Lafiya Dole. From there, I crossed over to become Force Commander,
Multinational Joint Task Force. Then I became Chief of Defence Training and
Operations, and later CDS for two and a half years.
“How could it be? Where people got that impression
I cannot tell. It is impossible. Besides, you can’t come into the military
if those in your local government have not sanctioned you,” he added.
How Repentant Terrorists Are Handled
Irabor clarified that Operation Safe Corridor,
a government initiative, manages the deradicalization, rehabilitation, and
reintegration of low-risk arrested Boko Haram members—but does not
integrate them into the armed forces.
These individuals, he said, are returned to society
after undergoing structured rehabilitation, not drafted into military service.
Insecurity Challenges Not Due to Security
Failures
Addressing Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges,
Irabor acknowledged gaps within the system—particularly in manpower and
equipment—but rejected the notion that failures by security agencies are to
blame.
He argued that funding alone does not guarantee
security effectiveness.
“The volume of funds expended does not necessarily
translate to efficiency,” he said. “You must take time to listen, understand
the problems, and address them properly.”
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