The Federal Government of Nigeria has graduated 744 individuals previously linked to terrorist groups after successfully completing its Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme.
The graduation followed the conclusion of a 24-week intensive course organised by the Defence Headquarters under Operation Safe Corridor at the Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, stated that the programme is designed to encourage defections from terrorist groups by offering a “corridor of opportunities” through structured deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts as part of the government’s strategy to end the long-running insurgency.
While at the camp, the participants underwent vocational training in skills such as carpentry, barbing, tailoring, welding, bakery operations, vulcanising, and various agricultural programmes.
These trainings aim to prepare them for productive lives after reintegration into society.
The graduates will also receive starter packs to support their self-sufficiency and smooth transition back into civilian life.
Operation Safe Corridor is a non-kinetic component of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations, primarily targeting low-risk defectors who voluntarily surrender.
Participants undergo rigorous screening, psycho-social support, and skills acquisition to reduce the risk of recidivism and weaken terrorist organisations from within.
This latest batch adds to thousands of individuals who have passed through similar rehabilitation initiatives in recent years, according to updates from the Defence Headquarters.
The Federal Government has maintained that the programme is not an amnesty but a targeted intervention that complements ongoing military operations in the North-East and other affected areas.