- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Government is set to reintegrate 744 repentant terrorists and victims of violent extremism back to the society following their graduation from the FG’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Camp under Operation Safe Corridor.
The repentant terrorists graduated from the camp in Gombe on Thursday.
In a breakdown of the 744 repentant terrorists, two reportedly hailed from Abia State, 10 from Adamawa State, one from Akwa Ibom State, two from Anambra State, three from Ebonyi State, and one from Enugu State.
Meanwhile, 597 hailed from Borno State, 12 from Bauchi State, 15 from Kano State, three from Katsina State, one from Kebbi State, five from Kogi State, four from Nasarawa State, two from Niger State, two from Plateau State, two from Sokoto State, and 58 from Yobe State.
In addition, there are foreign nationals, comprising one from Burkina Faso, one from Cameroon, two from Chad, and four from the Niger Republic.
733 out of the 744 graduates identified to be Muslims, while the remaining 11 were identified as Christians.
In his address at the event, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, debunked claims labelling the graduation of the repentant terrorists as a form of asylum granting to people who have terrorised the country over the years.
“Operation Safe Corridor is not an amnesty programme, and it is not a sign of weakness. It complements military operations by addressing the human threats of conflict, reducing recidivism and weakening the ideological foundations of violent extremism,” he said.
Oluyede, who was represented by the Director, Special Operations Forces at Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Kabiru Tanimu, stated that the initiative is “not a reward” for violence but a strategic tool to curb extremism.
He maintained that the programme was designed to address the human dimensions of insurgency and promote lasting peace.
Oluyede stressed that while military force remains necessary, long-term stability depends on rehabilitation and reintegration.
“This is not a reward but a deliberate strategy to reduce violence, weaken extremist recruitment and promote long-term stability.
“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,
“Operation Safe Corridor represents Nigeria’s firm belief that while kinetic operations are necessary to neutralise threats, lasting peace can only be achieved when we address the underlying drivers of de-radicalisation, disengagement and reintegration,” he said.
Addressing the graduates, the CDS reportedly urged them to embrace a new path, warning against a return to violence.
“Nigeria is giving you a second chance; do not waste it. You are returning not just to your communities but to a responsibility to live peacefully, to contribute meaningfully and to reject all forms of violence and extremism,” he said.