Over 100 Repentant Terrorists Complete Rehabilitation in Borno, Army Announces
The Defence Headquarters has officially declared that 117 repentant terrorists from Borno State have successfully completed the Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor. This announcement was made during a high-level stakeholders' meeting convened at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, where strategies for transferring rehabilitated individuals to national and state authorities were finalised.
Graduation Details and Federal-State Collaboration
Brigadier General Y. Ali, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, confirmed the completion of the rehabilitation process at Mallam Sidi Camp in Borno State. He emphasised that this milestone reflects strengthened harmonisation between federal and state authorities in areas such as reception, monitoring, and community reintegration. General Ali described the outcome as clear evidence of improved collaboration in managing the reintegration process and fostering community acceptance for former combatants.
Expansion of Operation Safe Corridor to New Regions
In a significant development, Brigadier General Ali highlighted the expansion of Operation Safe Corridor into the North West region. He noted that the establishment of a DRR camp in February of the previous year marked a major stabilisation milestone for that area. Additionally, ongoing engagements with Zamfara State are focused on repositioning the facility towards a comprehensive Victim Healing, Rehabilitation and Reintegration framework. This framework integrates psychosocial recovery, reconciliation, livelihood support, and structured monitoring to ensure sustainable reintegration.
Interest from North Central and National Standards
The coordinator also disclosed that the Benue State Government in the North Central region has formally requested the establishment of a DRR camp. In response, the Defence Headquarters has assessed proposed sites and advised that any approval must align with national infrastructure, security, and sustainability standards to ensure effectiveness and long-term viability.
Keynote Address by Chief of Defence Staff
Delivering the keynote address, Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Chief of Defence Operations Jamal Abdusalam, reaffirmed that Operation Safe Corridor remains a critical pillar of Nigeria's security architecture. He stressed that while kinetic military operations create room for stability, structured rehabilitation and reintegration are vital to sustaining security gains and preventing a relapse into violence. This approach underscores the military's commitment to a holistic strategy in addressing terrorism and insurgency.
The meeting, which included discussions on strengthening coordination for post-rehabilitation reintegration, was detailed in a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, on Thursday, February 19. This development comes amid ongoing security challenges, including recent attacks by groups such as ISWAP, highlighting the importance of rehabilitation efforts in Nigeria's broader counter-terrorism strategy.
