The Military High Command on Tuesday said that no fewer than 2,190 repentant terrorists have been reintegrated through its Operation Safe Corridor since its inception in 2016.
The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General Y. Ali, stated this in Abuja while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting
He explained that the number included 27 foreign nationals who have been repatriated to their respective countries.
He said that between July and November 2024, 825 new clients—including 14 foreigners from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger—were transferred to the De-radicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration camp for training.
Ali added that 22 clients requiring further psychological evaluation were transferred to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri.
According to him, “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 Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri for further evaluation and management. “
He stated that the meeting was aimed at finalising strategies for the smooth transfer of rehabilitated clients to state and national authorities for reintegration upon graduation in March 2025.
According to him, “Our purpose this morning, in line with the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff/National Chairman of OPSC, is to work out modalities for the smooth transfer of the clients presently in the camp to their national and state authorities for reintegration after graduation in March 2025. Specifically, at the end of this meeting, it is expected that we will have achieved the following milestones:
“All stakeholders would be fully abreast with activities of OPSC and DRR Programme in particular. The state authorities and the MDAs would know in specific terms, the roles they would play in the transfer as well as reintegration process of the clients.
“Identify and recommend in specific terms affordable resettlement packages for the clients and assign responsibility to relevant MDAs to provide.
“Determine the mode community sensitisation, camp visitation and community service programmes would take. Ratify the graduation date and initiate arrangements for the ceremony.“
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, emphasised the importance of proper reintegration to sustain the progress made by OPSC.
The CDS with was represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Shayi Olatunde, Musa revealed that over 130,000 insurgents and their family members have surrendered since the program began, adding that currently, 789 ex-combatants are undergoing rehabilitation, with 381 expected to graduate in 2025.
Gen Musa called on state governments to facilitate the reintegration process by providing additional support, including security measures to track and monitor the ex-combatants’ progress.
He reiterated that each graduate would receive personal items and startup packages to help them establish small businesses and start a new life.
According to him,, “Consequently, we currently have a total of 789 ex-combatants undergoing the re-racialisation, re-acquisition, and re-integration program under the initiative.
“Who is expected to graduate this year? To this meeting, I therefore say that conforming law with localities ensures the proper integration of the first of two parties, consisting of 381 clients in the United States. Considering the diverse perspectives of the committee members in this room, I have no doubt that all issues pertaining to the successful re-integration of these clients back into society will be exhaustively discussed with pragmatic solutions to be found.
“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.”
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Insecurity: South-West govs to set up joint team to combat ISWAP’s threat
Entrepreneurship is essentially about problem solving through creative thinking. Creativity is thinking outside of…
The CEO is the highest ranking officer of an organisation. There was a time…
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched a new five-year Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for…
Many residents of Ekiti State are now gushing with indescribable joy over…
THEN Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said…
When vultures surround you, try not to die. Whether you are in business or you are…
This website uses cookies.