No fewer than 117 repentant terrorists from Borno State have completed the Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC).
The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, disclosed this on Thursday, February 19, 2026, stating that the development was announced during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by Defence Headquarters at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre.
The meeting focused on finalising modalities for transferring rehabilitated individuals to national and state authorities for reintegration.
The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brig. Gen. Y. Ali, confirmed that the 117 beneficiaries completed the DRR process at Mallam Sidi Camp in Borno State.
He described the milestone as evidence of improved collaboration between federal and state authorities in managing reception, monitoring, and community reintegration of former insurgents.
According to the statement, the successful completion of the programme reflects strengthened harmonisation between federal and state governments in stabilisation efforts.
Ali also revealed that Operation Safe Corridor has been expanded to the North West, where a DRR camp was established in February last year as part of broader stabilisation measures.
Engagements are ongoing with Zamfara State to restructure the facility into a comprehensive Victim Healing, Rehabilitation and Reintegration framework. The framework is expected to incorporate psychosocial recovery, community reconciliation, livelihood support, and structured monitoring.
In the North Central region, Benue State has formally requested the establishment of a DRR camp.
Defence Headquarters has assessed proposed sites and advised alignment with national infrastructure, security, and sustainability standards before approval.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by representatives from federal ministries, the Office of the National Security Adviser, state governments, and neighbouring countries including Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
International partners present included the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Norway, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Delivering the keynote address, the Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman of the OPSC National Steering Committee, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede represented by the Chief of Defence Operations, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdusalam described Operation Safe Corridor as a critical component of Nigeria’s security architecture.
He emphasized that while military operations create the space for stability, structured rehabilitation and reintegration are essential to consolidate gains and prevent a relapse into violence.
Launched in 2016, Operation Safe Corridor forms part of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency strategy, combining kinetic military action with deradicalization and reintegration of surrendered fighters.
The programme is now being extended beyond the Northeast as more states affected by insurgency and banditry seek to establish DRR camps to support recovery and long-term peace.
