The National Disarmament, Dimobilisation and Reintegration Committee (NDDRC), is set to reintegrate some ex-fighters of the Nigerian jihadist group, Boko Haram into the communities.
The Francis Fai Yengo-led institution has announced that it will reintegrate a total of seven hundred and eight (708) ex-combatants from its Disarmament, Dimobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Centre in Mora in the Far North Region on Wednesday, December 18.
In a document mailed to NewsWatch, NDDRC details that those to be reintegrated include one hundred and three (103) men, one hundred and seventy-six (176), women and four hundred and twenty-nine (429) children.
Sixth anniversary of NDDRC
Before their reintegration, the adults have acquired technical, professional and commercial skills at the DDR center, the statement said. The skills will permit them to be financially independent within the community. The ex-combatants, the NDDRC said, will be provided reintegration kits (equipment) to permit them establish income-generating activities within the community.
The graduation ceremony of the ex-combatants will be followed by the official inauguration of the multifunctional DDR Centre of Meri, near Mora on Thursday, December 19. It is one of three DDR Centres in the country hosting former armed fighters who have dropped their weapons. Others include Bamenda and Buea in the North West and South West regions.
“The events at the DDR Center in Mora will take place as the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Committee marks its sixth anniversary in Cameroon,” the institution said in the statement.
The two separate events, NDDRC said, are both aimed to end the terrorist activities of Boko Haram and restore peace to the Far North region. Officials intend to use the two events to reiterate the President Paul Biya’s offer for the collaboration of all in the process of calling on combatants to lay down their arms and join the DDR centers.
Continuous monitoring
The reintegration of the ex-fighters into the communities is not the final goodbye from NDDRC officials. The institution has said it will continue to monitor and evaluate their activities in the community.
“The Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the NDDRC will supervise the activities of the repentant fighters for one year,” the statement said. “This will be done by organizing periodic meetings, impromptu visits to their residents and job sites,” NDDRC explained.
There will be other measures aimed at monitoring their activities as well as other socio-economic and political interactions with members of the communities.
As at November 2024, some 4,075 fighters had dropped their weapons and joined the three DDR Centres with 518 in Bamenda in the North West, 589 in Buea in the South West and 2,967 in Mora in the Far North Region.
