The military has announced plans to release 381 rehabilitated ex-terrorists in March 2025, urging state governments to ensure their proper reintegration through monitoring and empowerment programmes.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said a total 789 ex-combatants are undergoing rehabilitation, with 381 expected to graduate in 2025.
Represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Shayi Olatunde, Musa stressed the need for proper reintegration of the repentant terrorists to sustain the gains made by Operation Safe Corridor.
He urged the state governments to play an active role in the transition process by deploying security measures to track and monitor reintegrated individuals.
Musa said, “I, therefore, say that conforming law with localities ensures the proper integration of the first of two parties, consisting of 381 clients.
“It is also important to mention that upon graduation from this scheme, each client will be provided with some personal items as well as start-up pacts based on the three acquired, including their families.
“ This is to enable them to set up small businesses and start a new life. Accordingly, I urge benefiting state governments to facilitate the seamless re-integration of the ex-combatants by providing additional support to ease the transitional process. We are very optimistic that working closely with local and traditional authorities, the state can deploy security apparatus at their disposal to effectively track and monitor the progress of the re-integrated ex-combatants.”
The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brig. Gen. Y. Ali, said the programme has reintegrated no fewer than 2,190 repentant terrorists since its inception in 2016.
He added that the number included 27 foreign nationals who have been repatriated to their respective countries.
Ali disclosed that between July and November 2024, 825 new clients—including 14 foreigners from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger—were transferred to the De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration camp for training.
Ali added that 22 clients requiring further psychological evaluation were transferred to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri.
He said, “Since the commencement of the programme in 2016, OPSC has successfully processed 2,190 clients comprising 2,163 Nigerians and 27 foreign nationals from Cameroon, Chad and Niger. All the foreign clients were transferred to their respective national authorities for reintegration.
“Between July and November 2024, a total of 825 clients were transferred to the DRR Camp to commence training. Amongst them are 14 foreigners from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. It is also important to mention that 22 clients were subsequently transferred to the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri for further evaluation and management. “
