The Nigerian military has announced plans to release 381 rehabilitated ex-terrorists in March 2025, calling on state governments to ensure their proper reintegration through monitoring and empowerment programmes.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, disclosed that 789 former combatants are currently undergoing rehabilitation, with 381 scheduled to complete the programme next month.
Represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Shayi Olatunde, Musa underscored the need to properly reintegrate the ex-combatants to consolidate the achievements of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC).
He stated, “I, therefore, urge state governments to facilitate the seamless reintegration of the ex-combatants by providing additional support to ease the transitional process.”
“Working closely with local and traditional authorities, states can deploy their security apparatus to effectively track and monitor the progress of reintegrated individuals.”
Musa added that each graduate of the rehabilitation scheme would receive personal items and start-up packages tailored to their acquired skills, enabling them to establish small businesses and rebuild their lives.
The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brig. Gen. Y. Ali, reported that the programme has successfully reintegrated over 2,190 repentant terrorists since its inception in 2016. This figure includes 27 foreign nationals who have been repatriated to their respective countries.
Ali disclosed that between July and November 2024, 825 new clients, including 14 foreigners from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, were transferred to the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) camp for training.
He noted that 22 individuals requiring further psychological evaluation had been referred to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri for specialised care.
“Since the commencement of the programme in 2016, OPSC has processed 2,190 clients, comprising 2,163 Nigerians and 27 foreign nationals,” Ali said. “All foreign clients were transferred to their national authorities for reintegration.”
The meeting aimed to finalise strategies for the smooth transfer of rehabilitated clients to state and national authorities for reintegration upon graduation in March 2025, ensuring the long-term success of the initiative.
Operation Safe Corridor, a key component of Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, continues to work towards deradicalising and reintegrating former insurgents as part of broader measures to restore peace and stability in the region.
