A total of 117 ex-insurgents from Borno State who had surrendered to local authorities have successfully completed the Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor.

The milestone was announced at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by Defence Headquarters at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, where discussions focused on handing over rehabilitated participants to national and state authorities for community reintegration.

Brig. Gen. Y. Ali, Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, confirmed the 117 graduates finished their DRR process at Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State. He noted the achievement reflects improved federal-state collaboration on reception, monitoring, and reintegration.

The programme is expanding beyond the North East. A DRR facility was established in the North West last year, with ongoing talks in Zamfara State to evolve it into a broader framework supporting victim healing, psychosocial recovery, reconciliation, livelihood skills, and monitoring.

In the North Central zone, Benue State has formally requested its own DRR camp. Defence Headquarters has assessed proposed sites and emphasised the need to meet national standards for infrastructure, security, and sustainability.

The meeting included representatives from federal ministries, the Office of the National Security Adviser, state governments, neighbouring countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Cameroon), and international partners such as the ICRC, IOM, Norway, the UK, the EU, and the UK’s FCDO.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdusalam, described Operation Safe Corridor as a vital part of Nigeria’s security strategy. While military operations create stability, structured rehabilitation and reintegration are essential to sustain peace and prevent a return to violence.

Launched in 2016, the programme supports disarmament, deradicalisation, and reintegration for those who voluntarily surrender. It is now extending to more states affected by insurgency and banditry to aid long-term stabilisation and recovery.