FG Rehabilitates 744 Repentant Terrorists
No fewer than 744 former terrorists and victims of violent extremism have graduated from the Federal Government’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration initiative under Operation Safe Corridor.
The beneficiaries, drawn from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries, completed the programme designed to facilitate their transition back into society. A breakdown shows the majority—597—originated from Borno State, alongside participants from other states including Adamawa, Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, and Nasarawa, among others. Eight foreign nationals from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger Republic were also among the graduates.
Of the total, 733 are Muslims while 11 are Christians.
At the graduation ceremony held in Gombe, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, described the programme as a strategic intervention rather than a concession to insurgents. Represented by Rear Admiral Kabiru Tanimu, Director of Special Operations Forces at Defence Headquarters, he emphasised that the initiative addresses the human dimensions of conflict.
He stated that while military operations remain critical in combating insurgency, sustainable peace depends on rehabilitation and reintegration efforts that tackle the root causes of extremism.
According to him, Operation Safe Corridor reflects Nigeria’s commitment to combining kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to reduce violence, discourage recruitment into extremist groups, and promote long-term stability.
He urged the graduates to embrace their reintegration responsibly, warning against any return to violent activities. He also clarified that the programme should not be misconstrued as amnesty, noting that it complements ongoing military efforts by reducing recidivism and weakening extremist ideology.
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Oluyede further called on state governments and local communities to support the reintegration process, stressing that acceptance and monitoring are essential to sustaining the gains achieved.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, explained that the programme was established as a structured response to insurgency, integrating security operations with rehabilitation measures.
He disclosed that participants underwent comprehensive training, including psychosocial support, vocational skills acquisition, religious reorientation, civic education, and behavioural reform.
Ali noted that many of the beneficiaries were victims of coercion, abduction, or manipulation, and described the programme as a pathway for rebuilding identity and restoring social values.
He stressed that reintegration requires collective responsibility, involving governments, community leaders, families, and institutions to ensure successful resettlement.
Also speaking, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, represented by Ambassador Yusuf Musa, urged the graduates to utilise the opportunity as a fresh start and contribute positively to national development. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to peacebuilding and reintegration initiatives.
The graduation underscores Nigeria’s evolving counterinsurgency strategy, which increasingly integrates non-military approaches such as de-radicalisation and rehabilitation alongside traditional security operations.
Since its establishment in response to the Boko Haram insurgency, Operation Safe Corridor has developed into a multi-agency programme supported by local and international partners. It focuses on reducing extremist influence, preventing reoffending, and promoting community-based reintegration as part of broader stabilisation efforts in the North-East.
By PRNigeria
