IPCR Calls to Discontinue Boko Haram Rehabilitation Program

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has called for the discontinuation of the rehabilitation program for 'repentant' Boko Haram insurgents, established in 2018 under Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), due to concerns about their potential return to violence. This recommendation arose during a dialogue session in Abuja, where participants noted that rehabilitating 'low risk repentant' insurgents is counterproductive while the conflict persists.

The discussions highlighted the increasing complexity of Nigeria's security landscape, with new threats such as banditry and digital domain conflicts emerging. The IPCR previously drafted the National Peace Policy (NPP) in 2012 with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to address conflict drivers.

Recent frameworks from ECOWAS, the African Union, and the UN emphasize the need for prioritizing peace and conflict prevention. The IPCR's latest dialogue session resulted in recommendations for sustainable peacebuilding funding and integrating conflict sensitivity into development programming.