A total of 117 repentant terrorists have successfully completed the federal government’s de-radicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration, DRR, programme under Operation Safe Corridor, OPSC, in Borno State.
This was disclosed on Thursday during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, according to Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information.
Y. Ali, the OPSC coordinator, said the graduates underwent the programme at Mallam Sidi Camp, highlighting strengthened collaboration between federal and state authorities in reception, monitoring, and community reintegration.
alised procedures for transferring the rehabilitated individuals to their respective national and state authorities for reintegration into communities.
He noted that OPSC remained a multi-agency initiative backed by the Nigerian Constitution and relevant international humanitarian instruments, involving personnel from 17 ministries, departments, and agencies.
Since its inception in 2016, OPSC has evolved to strengthen screening mechanisms, refine ideological disengagement processes, enhance psychosocial support, and expand inter-agency coordination.
Ali further noted the programme’s expansion to north-western states, including a camp in Zamfara established last year, and ongoing discussions to establish a similar facility in Benue.
Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff (represented by Jamal Abdusalam, Chief of Defence Operations), described the programme as a key component of Nigeria’s security strategy.
He said that while military operations create space for stabilisation, structured rehabilitation and reintegration prevent former insurgents from returning to violence.
“The programme provides controlled, integrity-driven pathways for surrendering insurgents, helping to reduce insurgent cohesion, generate intelligence, and support long-term stability,” he said.
The stakeholders’ meeting also included briefings on camp activities, community reintegration strategies, and timelines for the graduates’ return to their communities.
