Officials announced that 117 repentant terrorists from Borno State completed the Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme under Operation Safe Corridor. The graduates finished the process at Mallam Sidi Camp.
This development reflected stronger coordination between federal and state authorities on reception, monitoring and community reintegration.
Announcement at High-Level Meeting
Defence Headquarters convened a stakeholders’ meeting at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre to finalize transfer modalities for rehabilitated individuals.
Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, issued a statement on Thursday that detailed the graduation. Y. Ali, Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, provided operational updates during the session.
Ali stated: “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.”
Expansion to North West and North Central
Additionally, Operation Safe Corridor expanded to the North West region. Authorities established a DRR camp there in February last year. Ongoing discussions with Zamfara State aimed to adapt the facility for victim healing, rehabilitation and reintegration, including psychosocial support and livelihood assistance.
Meanwhile Benue State requested a DRR camp in the North Central region. Defence Headquarters assessed proposed sites and required compliance with national standards on infrastructure and security before approval.
Participants and Keynote Address
Representatives from federal ministries, the Office of the National Security Adviser, state governments and neighboring countries attended the meeting. International partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration, also participated.
Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman of the Operation Safe Corridor National Steering Committee, delivered the keynote address through his representative Jamal Abdusalam, Chief of Defence Operations.
Oluyede emphasized that Operation Safe Corridor served as a key element in Nigeria’s security framework. He noted that military operations degraded insurgent capabilities but structured rehabilitation prevented relapse into violence.
Background of the Programme
Nigeria launched Operation Safe Corridor in 2016 to support disarmament, deradicalisation and reintegration of surrendered fighters. The strategy combined military actions with rehabilitation efforts. States affected by insurgency and banditry increasingly sought DRR camps to aid stabilisation and recovery.
