A total of 744 former insurgents have completed the Federal Government’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme under Operation Safe Corridor
The majority of the participants came from Borno State (597), with others drawn from Yobe (58), Kano (15), Bauchi (12), Adamawa (10), Kogi (5), Nasarawa (4), and smaller numbers from states including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, and Sokoto.
The group also included a number of foreign nationals, with participants from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, and the Niger Republic.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Gombe, the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, explained that the initiative is designed to tackle the underlying drivers of insurgency. He emphasized that the programme is not an amnesty, but a strategic intervention aimed at reducing recidivism and disrupting extremist recruitment.
“This is not a reward but a deliberate approach to reducing violence, weakening recruitment pipelines, and fostering long-term stability,” he said.
Oluyede added that combining military action with rehabilitation efforts remains essential for sustainable peace, urging the graduates to fully embrace their reintegration into society and abandon violence.
Also speaking, the coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Yusuf Ali, noted that participants underwent extensive psychosocial counselling, vocational training, and reorientation programmes to prepare them for life after the camp.
“This process is about rebuilding identity, restoring values, and preparing individuals to return as responsible members of society,” he said.
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