Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says more than 300,000 terrorists surrendered to the superior firepower of the Armed Forces of Nigeria between 2016 and 2025.
The DHQ further disclosed that, of this number, 2,615 ex-combatants have successfully graduated from the Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) programme, initiated by the Federal Government for deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.
The National Coordinator of OPSC, Yusuf Ali, who disclosed this while speaking in Abuja explained that although the surrendered number includes women and children, these groups are not admitted into the programme.
According to him,“2,615 clients have so far graduated through OPSC. This is out of more than 300,000 who have surrendered, including women and children,”
Ali clarified that women and children are handed over to their respective states for rehabilitation.
“OPSC does not admit women and children; they are usually catered for by their state governments with assistance from UNICEF,” he added.
Ali said the programme is continuously evolving to respond to changing security realities.
“Operation Safe Corridor is not static; it evolves in response to the changing security environment across different theatres of operation in Nigeria. We are strengthening the programme along several critical lines,” he said
Ali noted that community acceptance and balancing victim support with reintegration remain key areas of focus.
“That is why we are evolving the programme to include stronger community engagement and victim-centred interventions,” he said.
He also highlighted the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) system as a mechanism for tracking ex-combatants after they complete the six-month Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) programme.
OPSC is designed to encourage the voluntary surrender of Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents, particularly low-risk individuals, and reintegrate them into society.
