A total of 744 repentant terrorists have graduated from the Federal Government’s de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration programme under Operation Safe Corridor.
Most of the participants came from Borno State (597), followed by Yobe (58), Kano (15), Bauchi (12), Adamawa (10), Abia (2), Akwa Ibom (1), Anambra (2), Ebonyi (3), Enugu (1), Katsina (3), Kebbi (1), Kogi (5), Nasarawa (4), Niger (2), Plateau (2), and Sokoto (2).
The group also included foreign nationals: one each from Burkina Faso and Cameroon, two from Chad, and four from Niger Republic.
At the graduation ceremony held in Gombe, the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, described the programme as a strategic effort to tackle the root causes of insurgency. He stressed that it is not an amnesty but a way to reduce violence and prevent further recruitment into extremist groups.
He said:
“This is not a reward but a deliberate approach to reducing violence, weakening recruitment pipelines, and fostering long-term stability.”
He added that combining military action with rehabilitation is important for achieving lasting peace, urging the graduates to reintegrate into society and avoid returning to violence.
The coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Yusuf Ali, explained that the participants received psychosocial support, vocational training, and reorientation programmes to prepare them for reintegration.
He stated:
“This process is about rebuilding identity, restoring values, and preparing individuals to return as responsible members of society.”
Ali also noted that the programme equips participants with skills to contribute positively to society, adding that successful reintegration requires support from the government, communities, and families.
