Former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.), has dismissed claims that repentant Boko Haram members are being absorbed into the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Irabor said such recruitment is impossible under Nigeria’s military structure.
“It has always been a burden for me to understand where this impression comes from. How can they be recruited? This does not exist,” he said.
The retired general, who served as Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole and later as CDS, stressed that his experience at the highest levels of military command makes such claims implausible.
“Before I became CDS, I was Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole. From there, I became Force Commander of the Multinational Aid Taskforce. Later, I served as Chief of Defence Training and Operations, overseeing all operations. Then I returned as Theatre Commander and eventually became CDS for two and a half years. How could this happen? Where people got that impression, I cannot tell,” he said.
Irabor explained that even basic military recruitment requires clearance from one’s local government, making it impossible for former terrorists to slip through the system.
“It is impossible. Besides, you cannot join the military unless your local government has sanctioned you,” he added.
He clarified that Operation Safe Corridor — the Federal Government programme for deradicalising low-risk Boko Haram detainees — is aimed at reintegration into civilian life, not the armed forces.
While acknowledging ongoing challenges in tackling insecurity nationwide, Irabor rejected the notion that these issues stem from failures by security agencies. He emphasized that manpower, equipment, and a better understanding of security dynamics remain key to strengthening the fight against insurgency.
In recent years, the government has intensified efforts to deradicalise and reintegrate former Boko Haram fighters through Operation Safe Corridor, a programme designed for low-risk ex-combatants who voluntarily surrender.
