Nigeria military sets up camp to rehabilitate Boko Haram members

The Nigerian military has set up a camp to rehabilitate Boko Haram members who have surrendered -- and will surrender -- and help them re-integrate into society.

In a statement by Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, as reported by Times Live, around 800 fighters are expected to take part in the rehabilation program. The facility will give them vocational training.

"It is going to be a huge exercise," Abubakar said. "The establishment of the camp is in line with best global practices, to rehabilitate those fighters who surrendered or are captured in a war situation."

The location of the camp has not been disclosed, but the general told AFP that the program, reportedly called "Operation Safe Corridor," is going to "empower, deradicalise, retrain and reintegrate" the Boko Haram members.

According to Fox News, Abubakar is also urging the militants to drop the Islamic insurgency and surrender.

"The reluctant Boko Haram members should therefore see wisdom in surrendering now, thereby saving themselves from the imminent calamity that is about to fall on them in the event of the military mop-up if they continue in their unwholesome acts," he said, this time quoted by Africa News.

Breitbart reports that the Islamic State-affiliated group has weakened in the past year due to the efforts of the Nigerian military under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. Government forces have blocked food and fuel supplies, which has resulted to some of the militants laying down their arms.

Boko Haram's actions has led to the deaths of about 20,000 people in six years. Their violence stems from their desire to establish an Islamic state in the northeastern part of Nigeria. Since Feb. 26, 11,595 hostages have reportedly been rescued from the group's camps. About 2.8 million people were forced out of their homes; and while some refugees have already returned to their villages, there are those who refuse to go back for fear of the group. According to Breitbart, some of the victims have complained about the lack of government help for them to start their lives over.