Nearly 750 former terrorists and victims of violent extremism have graduated from flagship deradicalisation programme, marking a fresh push to blend military action with rehabilitation efforts against insurgency in the northeast.
The 744 participants completed training at the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration camp under Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe on Thursday. Most hailed from Borno and Yobe states, with smaller numbers from other parts of the country and a handful of foreign nationals from neighbouring Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Burkina Faso.
Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Rear Admiral Kabiru Tanimu, described the event as more than a ceremony. “This moment is not just a ceremony; it is a statement of progress, a demonstration of national resolve and a testimony to the power of strategic thinking in addressing human dimensions of conflict,” he said.
Oluyede stressed that while military operations remain essential, “long-term stability depends on rehabilitation and reintegration.” He added that Operation Safe Corridor “is not an amnesty programme, and it is not a sign of weakness,” but a complement to kinetic efforts aimed at reducing recidivism and weakening extremist recruitment.
The graduates, 733 Muslims and 11 Christians, underwent psychosocial support, vocational training, religious reorientation, civic education and behavioural transformation during the programme.
Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, noted that many participants had been drawn into violence through coercion or circumstances beyond their control. “This process is not merely about disengagement; it is about rebuilding identity, restoring values and preparing individuals to return to society as responsible citizens,” he said.
Representing Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, Ambassador Yusuf Musa urged the graduates to seize the opportunity. “You’ve been given a second chance, do not take it for granted. Go forward and become responsible, law-abiding, and productive citizens,” he told them.
Officials emphasised that successful reintegration would require collective support from state governments, community leaders and families to monitor and accept the returnees.
