The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed that over 60% of terrorists and armed fighters are not motivated by ideology, but are individuals who were coerced, abducted, or swept up in conflict dynamics.
This finding underscores the critical need for the federal government’s deradicalisation and rehabilitation efforts, particularly the Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) programme.
Launched in 2016, Operation Safe Corridor is a federal government-led initiative designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate repentant ex-combatants from armed groups, including Boko Haram and its splinter factions, into society. Coordinated by the DHQ in collaboration with agencies such as the Ministry of Justice and Nigeria Police, the programme targets low-risk individuals and prepares them for a peaceful civilian life.
Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, National Coordinator of OPSC, told journalists in Abuja that interventions must now be tailored to regional realities rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Highlighting the programme’s evolution, Ali announced plans to expand Operation Safe Corridor to include rehabilitation of victims of violent extremism across the country. “Sustainable peace cannot be achieved if victims feel neglected. This is why we are establishing Victims’ Rehabilitation and Reintegration Camps in the North-Central and North-West regions, addressing trauma, displacement, and psychological scars,” he said.
The first DRR camp has been set up in Tsafe, Zamfara State, to address the security dynamics of the North-West, while a new facility in Benue will cater to the North-Central region. Additional zones are being planned under a broader national framework.
Ali emphasized three key directions in the programme’s evolution: stronger screening and accountability, region-specific infrastructure, and a balanced approach addressing both ex-combatant disengagement and community healing.
Addressing misconceptions, Ali clarified that Operation Safe Corridor is not amnesty, not a shortcut to evade justice, and not a recruitment pathway into the Armed Forces. “Through stakeholder engagement, media campaigns, and partnerships with the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, we aim to enhance public trust and understanding of the programme,” he said.
