Nigeria’s terrorist deradicalization program reached a new level on Thursday as 744 former terrorists and victims of violent extremism graduated in Gombe under Operation Safe Corridor.

The Federal Government programme, led by the Defence Headquarters, says the program is intended to reduce insurgency.

Participants drawn from 17 states and four foreign countries completed months of structured reorientation, vocational training, and psychological support.

Meanwhile, officials described the exercise as part of a long-term plan to stabilise Nigeria’s North-East after years of insurgency linked to groups like Boko Haram.

“This programme is not a reward for violence but a strategic tool to counter extremism,” said Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oluyede.

“It addresses the human dimension of insurgency and supports sustainable peacebuilding efforts,” he added.

The defence chief spoke through Rear Admiral Kabiru Tanimu during the ceremony, reinforcing Nigeria’s shift toward combining military force with non-kinetic solutions.

“While military operations remain necessary, lasting peace depends on rehabilitation and reintegration,” he said.

Inside Nigeria’s De-Radicalisation Strategy

Operation Safe Corridor was launched as a response to mass defections and surrenders by insurgents, especially in Borno and Yobe states.

Furthermore, the initiative targets low-risk individuals, many of whom were allegedly coerced or recruited under duress.

“Operation Safe Corridor is not an amnesty programme but a structured intervention,” Oluyede explained.

“Its goal is to weaken extremist recruitment and promote long-term stability,” he added.

Participants underwent civic education, religious reorientation, and skills training designed to prepare them for civilian life.

Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, coordinator of the programme, detailed its scope.

“Beneficiaries receive psychosocial support, vocational skills, and behavioural transformation,” Ali said.

“Many were victims of coercion, and this programme offers them a chance to rebuild their lives,” he added.

Reintegration Challenges And Community Role

The success of the programme, however, depends heavily on acceptance by communities and state governments.

“Reintegration is a shared responsibility requiring support from families, institutions, and communities,” Ali said.

Gombe State Governor Muhammad Yahaya, represented at the event, called on graduates to embrace change.

“You must seize this opportunity for a fresh start and become productive members of society,” he said.

A breakdown showed 597 participants came from Borno, while others were drawn from states including Adamawa, Kano, and Katsina.

Additionally, eight foreign nationals from Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso were part of the graduating cohort.

The religious composition included 733 Muslims and 11 Christians.

A Shift Toward Non-Kinetic Security Measures

Nigeria’s counter-insurgency strategy has evolved over the past decade, moving beyond battlefield victories to focus on prevention.

Authorities now see rehabilitation as a way to breaking cycles of violence.

“Sustainable peace depends not only on defeating insurgents but on preventing their return,” officials maintained.

Operation Safe Corridor tries to address ideological, social, and economic drivers of extremism.

However, the issue remains about recidivism and whether communities will fully accept returning individuals.

“Graduates must not return to violence but contribute positively to national development,” Oluyede warned.

As Nigeria follows these non-kinetic strategies, the programme is not without its critics who insist anyone found in a crime by law ought to face the legal consequences of their actions.

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