The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has disclosed that no fewer than 51,828 Boko Haram fighters and their family members surrendered to the Federal Government between July 2021 and May 2022.

Gen. Irabor disclosed this while delivering a lecture titled “National Defence Policy and Transitional Justice Approach in the War Against Insurgency in Nigerin”, at the 7th Founders’ Day of the Edo state University, Uzairue.

According to him, “between July 2021 to May 2022 alone, no fewer that 51,828 Boko haram and their family members have surrendered, out of which 13,360 are fighters”.

He further disclosed that 1,543 repentant terrorists so far graduated from Mallam Sidi camp, in Gombe State between 2016 and 2022, while 1,935 have been released from the camp in Bulumkutu, Maiduguri.

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He said Operation Safe Corridor as a transitional justice approach was created similar to the Niger Delta Amnesty programme launched by the Federal Government in 2009 which involved the setting up of special facilities where repentant terrorists who surrendered their arms can be rehabilitated.

“The programme offers numerous opportunities and participants are scheduled for vocational training to ease their reintegration into the society”, he emphasized.

Gen. Irabor, however, said despite the modest successes recorded by operation safe corridor in the fight against crime, the programme still faces a lot of challenges.

He listed some of challenges ro include the lack of specialised training experts and inadequate physical structure, inadequate collaboration and coordination, absence of appropriate legislation on reintegration, low agency and international participation as well as ineffective monitoring system.

He, however, identified the way forward to include “train-the-trainers programme and establishment of special fund for Deradicalisation, Reintegration and Reorientation (DRR), establishment of a national commission for DRR, enacting of a DRR Act, building of strategic partnerships and adoption of a whole-of-society approach to monitoring,” he said.

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He further said in any counter insurgency, transitional justice plays a key role in healing wounds such as Nigerian Civil War and the Niger Delta crisis, adding that Operation Safe Corridor has achieved some degree of successes which could be built upon.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, commended the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, RT. Hon. Com. Philip Shaibu for their continuous support for the university and for creating enabling environment for the university to strive.

Prof. Aluyor said that the lectures over the years have gradually shaped the outlook of the founder’s day ceremony where important issues on how Nigeria can be harness into a country of our collective dreams are delivered.

According to him, “Edo State University Uzairue since inception has been committed to pursuit of world class goals in teaching, learning and research which is why we are proud of our products”.

He further stated that some of the lecturers and researchers are listed among the first 500 researchers in Nigeria, while the nursing and medical laboratory students recorded 100% successes in their Council’s exams.

The VC particularly thanked the governor for the upgrade of the general hospital Auch to Edo State University Uzairue teaching hospital which he said contributed to the full acresitation of the MBBS programme of the university by the medical and dental council of Nigeria.

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“We are not resting in taking the university to a greater hieght as we planned to open up new programmes such as Pharmacy and post graduate programmes in other areas to compliment what we already have on ground” he concluded.

On his part, Edo State governor and the visitor to the university, Mr Godwin Obaseki represented by Hon. Inusa Imhonopi commended the management of the university for the successful hosting of this year’s founder’s day.

He said that the present administration is consistent in chatting a progressive course for the university as the government is doing its best while the management is also doing its best and urged them to see that the university remain on top.

Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries has recounted the love treatment he received from the president and founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, when suspected assassins attacked him.

Recall that on October 21, 2022, gunmen suspected to be assassins attacked Suleman’s motorcade, killing at least seven persons including security officers.

It was reported that the man of God escaped death because of his bulletproof car.

Speaking during a church service on how some ministers of God treated him during the trying moment, Suleman said Oyedepo’s love was exceptional.

According to him, some men of God who were expected to sympathise with him over the incident never called.

He said Bishop Oyedepo called several times and prayed for him against further attacks.

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He said: “The love I saw from Bishop Oyedepo when I was attacked, I didn’t see from any minister in Nigeria. He didn’t have my phone number, he sent me his phone number. He said that they should give it to me.

“People were calling me. Bishop Abioye was calling me. I know Bishop Abioye’s number. And he (Oyedepo) began to pray for me.

“The next day, he called me again. Such a man! Who am I? He said, ‘they will not succeed, they can’t quench that light’! Tears came out of my eyes.”

Congratulatory messages are pouring in for the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Obi (Dr) Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II, as he was formally presented Doctoral degree certificate in Paris, France on Friday.

The Obi was awarded his Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) by the prestigious Paris School of Business upon successful completion of his research and thesis.

INFO DAILY reports that the area of focus for the research was small and micro business financing.

The Monarch is apparently following in the footsteps of his father, late Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, HRM OBI Professor Chukuka Aninshi Okonjo II who got his doctorate degree in Economics and Mathematics.

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The Obi is the brother to Ngozi Okonjo Iweala a two time finance minister, World Bank Managing Director and current WTO Director- General.

Elated members of the Ogwashi-Uku community, officials of the Delta State Government and well wishers in messages seen by our correspondent, sent in their congratulatory messages for the remarkable achievement.

By this, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku joins a small elite club of Traditional Rulers who have achieved such educational heights while in office.