By Abdulahi Musa
The Federal Government has graduated 744 individuals from its De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor, stressing that the initiative is a strategic security measure rather than an amnesty for former insurgents.
The beneficiarie comprising low-risk former extremists and victims of insurgency completed a six-month rehabilitation exercise at the DRR Camp in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State, with the ceremony held on April 16, 2026.
Data from the programme shows that most of the participants are from the North-East, including 597 from Borno and 58 from Yobe.
Others were drawn from Adamawa (10), Bauchi (12), Kano (15), Ebonyi (3), Enugu (1), Akwa Ibom (1), Kogi (5), Plateau (2), Sokoto (2), Niger (2), and Nasarawa (4).
The batch also included eight foreign nationals one each from Burkina Faso and Cameroon, two from Chad, and four from Niger Republic.
Of the total number, 733 are Muslims, while 11 are Christians. Speaking at the event, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, who chairs the National Steering Committee on Operation Safe Corridor, underscored that the programme should not be misconstrued as a reward for violence.
Represented by Rear Admiral Kabiru Tanimu, Director of Special Operations at Defence Headquarters, Oluyede described the initiative as a critical non-kinetic approach to addressing insurgency.
He said the programme complements military operations by tackling the root causes of extremism, weakening recruitment networks, and reducing the likelihood of relapse into violence.
“Operation Safe Corridor is not an amnesty programme and should not be seen as a sign of weakness. It is a deliberate strategy aimed at addressing the human dimension of conflict and promoting sustainable peace,” he stated.
The defence chief urged the graduates to embrace their reintegration responsibly, noting that they had been given a second chance to contribute positively to society and reject extremist ideologies.
He further stressed that community acceptance, monitoring, and stakeholder collaboration remain essential to sustaining the gains recorded through the programme.
In a goodwill message, a representative of the British High Commission, Annup Vyas, commended Nigeria’s efforts, describing the initiative as locally driven but strengthened by international support, including backing from the United Kingdom since 2018.
He emphasised that the success of the programme would ultimately depend on how well the beneficiaries apply their acquired skills and reintegrate peacefully into society, reaffirming continued UK support for stability and long-term security in Nigeria.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, explained that the programme was introduced as a structured response to insurgency, offering pathways for disengagement and rehabilitation.
According to him, participants underwent comprehensive interventions, including psychosocial support, vocational training, civic and religious reorientation, as well as behavioural transformation.
Ali noted that many of the beneficiaries were victims of coercion—some abducted, others forced into insurgent activities—adding that the programme aims to rebuild identity and prepare them for responsible citizenship.
He called on state governments, communities, and families to support reintegration efforts, stressing that successful rehabilitation requires collective responsibility.
Also speaking, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, urged the graduates not to betray the trust placed in them, encouraging them to seize the opportunity for a fresh start.
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters and Intergovernmental Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Musa, the governor charged them to remain law-abiding and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
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