JOHANNESBURG - Hundreds of former Boko Haram fighters have graduated from a rehabilitation and reintegration programme.
It marks another major step to bring an end to years of insurgency in the region.
The so-called repentant terrorists were deradicalised in Maiduguri, Nigeria.
They also received vocational training to prepare them for a return to civilian life after renouncing violence.
Over 700 former fighters completed the programme in the latest intake.
That takes the total number of converted fighters to nearly ten thousand.
The programme remains controversial among victims and communities affected by the conflict.
But authorities argue that rehabilitation is a crucial part of restoring stability.
Meanwhile, tensions are high in Nigeria's capital as protesters demand President Bola Tinubu's resignation.
It comes amid growing frustration over insecurity, violent crime and a wave of mass kidnappings.
Demonstrators accuse the government of failing to protect citizens, particularly schoolchildren.
Security forces have moved to contain the protests and prevent crowds from reaching the presidential palace.
But the crackdown is only fueling anger, with protesters saying they are now facing attacks on all fronts.