744 Former Terrorists, Violent Extremism Victims Graduate from Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe
No fewer than 744 clients, comprising former terrorists and victims of violent extremism, on Thursday graduated from the Federal Government’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Camp under Operation Safe Corridor.
A breakdown of the graduates showed that 597 are from Borno State, 58 from Yobe State, 15 from Kano State, 12 from Bauchi State, 10 from Adamawa State, while others came from Abia (2), Anambra (2), Ebonyi (3), Enugu (1), Katsina (3), Kebbi (1), Kogi (5), Nasarawa (4), Niger (2), Plateau (2), Sokoto (2), and Akwa Ibom (1).
Foreign nationals among the graduates include one from Burkina Faso, one from Cameroon, two from Chad, and four from Niger Republic. Of the total, 733 are Muslims while 11 are Christians.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Gombe, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, described the programme as “not a reward” for violence but a strategic tool designed to curb extremism and promote lasting peace.
Represented by the Director, Special Operations Forces at Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Kabiru Tanimu, Gen. Oluyede said the initiative addresses the human dimensions of insurgency.
“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.
He stressed that while kinetic military operations remain necessary, long-term stability requires rehabilitation and reintegration.
“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,” Oluyede added.
The CDS warned the graduates against returning to violence, urging them to make the most of the second chance given by the country.
“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.
He clarified that the programme is not an amnesty, describing it as a complement to military efforts aimed at reducing recidivism and weakening extremist ideologies.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brig. Gen. Yusuf Ali, explained that the programme was established as a deliberate response to insurgency, combining military action with non-kinetic strategies.
He said the beneficiaries underwent intensive training in psychosocial support, vocational skills, religious reorientation, civic education, and behavioural transformation.
“Some were abducted, others were forced, and many were drawn into the conflict due to circumstances beyond their control. But today marks a turning point,” Ali noted.
Governor Muhammad Yahaya of Gombe State, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters and Intergovernmental Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Musa, charged the graduates to embrace the opportunity as a new beginning.
“You’ve been given a second chance, do not take it for granted. Go forward and become responsible, law-abiding, and productive citizens who will contribute positively to your community and the nation at large,” he said.
Operation Safe Corridor, domiciled at the Mallam Sidi facility in Gombe State, continues to serve as a major multi-agency platform for deradicalisation and reintegration.
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