One hundred and seventeen former insurgents have completed the Federal Government’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) in Borno State.
The Nigerian Army disclosed this on Thursday at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, where officials reviewed the next phase of the graduates’ transition back into society.
Coordinator of OPSC, Y. Ali, said the beneficiaries underwent the programme at the Mallam Sidi Camp, noting that collaboration between federal and state authorities has improved in the areas of reception, monitoring and community reintegration.
According to him, the meeting finalised modalities for transferring the rehabilitated individuals to their respective national and state authorities.
“The graduates have successfully gone through the DRR programme at Mallam Sidi Camp. We have strengthened coordination with state governments to ensure proper reception, monitoring and reintegration into their communities,” Ali said.
He explained that Operation Safe Corridor remains a multi-agency initiative supported by the Nigerian Constitution and relevant international humanitarian instruments, with participation from 17 ministries, departments and agencies.
Ali added that since its establishment in 2016, the programme has evolved significantly.
“Over the years, we have strengthened our screening mechanisms, refined ideological disengagement processes, enhanced psychosocial support services and expanded inter-agency collaboration,” he said.
He further revealed that the initiative has been extended to parts of the North-West, including the establishment of a camp in Zamfara last year, while discussions are ongoing to set up a similar facility in Benue State.
Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Operations, Jamal Abdusalam, described the programme as a critical component of Nigeria’s broader security framework.
“While kinetic military operations create the space for stabilisation, structured rehabilitation and reintegration are essential to prevent former insurgents from returning to violence,” he said.
He added that the initiative provides “controlled, integrity-driven pathways for surrendering insurgents, helping to reduce insurgent cohesion, generate actionable intelligence and support long-term national stability.”
The meeting also featured briefings on camp operations, community reintegration strategies and timelines for the phased return of the 117 graduates to their respective communities.
