No fewer than 117 repentant terrorists have completed the Federal Government’s de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme under Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) in Borno State.
The development was announced during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Defence Headquarters in collaboration with the OPSC leadership at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre.
In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, said the OPSC Coordinator, Y. Ali, confirmed that the former insurgents completed the Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) process at Mallam Sidi Camp.
Ali said the meeting was convened to finalise modalities for transferring the rehabilitated individuals to their respective national and state authorities for structured reintegration.
He noted that the latest graduation reflects stronger federal and state collaboration in reception, monitoring and community reintegration.
Ali commended the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Olufemi Oloyede, for institutional backing and leadership, stating that OPSC’s expansion aligns with the CDS philosophy of enhanced joint operations, improved welfare and sound administration under a whole-of-government framework.
Launched in 2016, Operation Safe Corridor is a multi-agency humanitarian stabilisation initiative backed by the 1999 Constitution and international humanitarian and human rights instruments. The programme draws personnel from 17 services, ministries, departments and agencies.
According to Ali, OPSC has strengthened its screening processes, refined ideological disengagement modules, improved psychosocial recovery systems and expanded inter-agency coordination since inception.
He stressed that the programme remains “structured and integrity-protected”, with a focus on accountability, behavioural change and sustainable reintegration outcomes.
The coordinator also highlighted the expansion of the programme to the North-West. A DRR camp established in Zamfara in February last year marked a key stabilisation milestone.
He disclosed that engagement is ongoing with the Zamfara State Government to recalibrate the facility into a comprehensive victim healing, rehabilitation and reintegration framework, incorporating psychosocial recovery, reconciliation initiatives, livelihood support and structured monitoring.
Ali further revealed that Benue State has formally requested the establishment of a DRR camp. The Defence Headquarters has assessed proposed sites and advised alignment with national infrastructure, security and sustainability standards before final approval.
Representing the CDS at the meeting, the Chief of Defence Operations at Defence Headquarters, Jamal Abdusalam, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to peacebuilding.
He described Operation Safe Corridor as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that while military operations create space for stability, structured rehabilitation prevents the recycling of violence.
“Since its inception in 2016, Operation Safe Corridor has processed thousands of clients through a controlled and integrity-driven framework,” he said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of federal ministries, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), state governments and neighbouring countries including Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
International partners present included European Union, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Organization for Migration and the governments of Norway and United Kingdom.
