Nigeria’s military says thousands of ex-combatants have been rehabilitated under Operation Safe Corridor since 2016.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed that more than 300,000 terrorists surrendered to the superior firepower of the Armed Forces of Nigeria between 2016 and 2025.
The military further disclosed that, of this number, 2,615 ex-combatants have successfully graduated from the Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) programme, initiated by the Federal Government for deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.
Speaking in Abuja, the National Coordinator of OPSC, Yusuf Ali, explained that although the surrendered number includes women and children, these groups are not admitted into the programme.
“2,615 clients have so far graduated through OPSC. This is out of more than 300,000 who have surrendered, including women and children,” he said.
He clarified that women and children are handed over to their respective states for rehabilitation.
“OPSC does not admit women and children; they are usually catered for by their state governments with assistance from UNICEF,” he added.
Addressing concerns over due diligence and monitoring, Ali said the programme is continuously evolving to respond to changing security realities.
“Operation Safe Corridor is not static; it evolves in response to the changing security environment across different theatres of operation in Nigeria. We are strengthening the programme along several critical lines,” he stated.
He acknowledged the challenges associated with such initiatives, particularly in conflict environments, noting that community acceptance and balancing victim support with reintegration remain key areas of focus.
“That is why we are evolving the programme to include stronger community engagement and victim-centred interventions,” he said.
Ali also highlighted the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) system as a mechanism for tracking ex-combatants after they complete the six-month Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) programme.
The multi-agency initiative is designed to encourage the voluntary surrender of Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents, particularly low-risk individuals, and reintegrate them into society.
