117 repentant terrorists from Borno State have completed the Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme under Operation Safe Corridor.
The programme aims to reintegrate former fighters into society and prevent relapse into violence.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, the graduation was announced during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by Defence Headquarters at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre to finalise modalities for transferring rehabilitated clients to national and state authorities for reintegration.
The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brig. Gen. Y. Ali, disclosed that the 117 beneficiaries concluded the DRR process at Mallam Sidi Camp in Borno State.
He described the development as a reflection of improved coordination between federal and state authorities on reception, monitoring and community reintegration.
“Providing operational updates, the Coordinator disclosed that 117 clients from Borno State have successfully completed the DRR process at Mallam Sidi Camp, reflecting strengthened federal–state harmonisation in reception, monitoring and community reintegration.
“He also highlighted the expansion of OPSC to the North West, where a DRR camp established in February last year marked a significant stabilisation milestone. Ongoing engagements with Zamfara State aim to recalibrate the facility toward a comprehensive Victim Healing, Rehabilitation and Reintegration framework, integrating psychosocial recovery, community reconciliation, livelihood support and structured monitoring”, the statement reads.
While speaking on developments in the North Central, Ali revealed that Benue State had officially sought the creation of a DRR camp.
He noted that Defence Headquarters had inspected proposed locations and advised that they must align with national infrastructure, security and sustainability standards before approval could be granted.
The meeting drew participants from federal ministries, the Office of the National Security Adviser, various state governments and neighbouring countries—Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. International partners present included the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration, alongside Norway, the United Kingdom, the European Union and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
In his keynote address, the Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman of the OPSC National Steering Committee, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, represented by the Chief of Defence Operations, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdusalam, said Operation Safe Corridor remained a vital pillar of Nigeria’s security framework.
He explained that while kinetic operations create room for stability, structured rehabilitation and reintegration efforts are crucial to consolidating security gains and preventing a relapse into violence.
Nigeria’s counter-insurgency strategy blends military action with the rehabilitation of surrendered fighters through Operation Safe Corridor, introduced in 2016 to facilitate disarmament, deradicalisation and reintegration.
The programme is now expanding beyond the North East as additional states grappling with insurgency and banditry seek DRR facilities to aid stabilisation and recovery.
