A group of 117 former terrorists from Borno State has finalized the Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme, part of the initiative known as Operation Safe Corridor.
Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, the Director of Defence Information, announced this in a statement released on Thursday, February 19, 2026, during a high-level stakeholders' meeting organized by Defence Headquarters at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre. The meeting was convened to discuss the processes for transferring rehabilitated individuals to both national and state authorities for successful reintegration.
Brig. Gen. Y. Ali, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, stated that the 117 graduates concluded their rehabilitation at Mallam Sidi Camp located in Borno State.
He emphasized that this development signifies enhanced collaboration between federal and state bodies regarding reception, monitoring, and community reintegration.
Updating on the operations, the Coordinator highlighted, "The successful completion of the DRR process by 117 clients from Borno State showcases the strengthened cooperation between federal and state authorities in overseeing their reintegration into the community."
Ali also pointed out an expansion of Operation Safe Corridor to the North West region, noting that a DRR camp established in February the previous year has reached a crucial stabilisation goal.
Discussions are currently ongoing with Zamfara State to upgrade the facility aimed at a comprehensive Victim Healing, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration model that will include psychosocial support, community reconciliation, livelihood initiatives, and structured monitoring.
In North Central Nigeria, it was revealed by Ali that Benue State has officially requested the establishment of its own DRR camp.
He added that the Defence Headquarters is currently evaluating potential locations and has recommended that these align with sustainable security and national infrastructure standards before final approvals.
The stakeholders' meeting included participants from various federal ministries, the Office of the National Security Adviser, state governments, and neighboring nations such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. International organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration, alongside representatives from Norway, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, were also in attendance.
In his keynote address, the Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman of Operation Safe Corridor National Steering Committee, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, represented by the Chief of Defence Operations, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdusalam, affirmed that Operation Safe Corridor remains vital to Nigeria's security framework.
He acknowledged that while military interventions are necessary for creating stability, organised rehabilitation and reintegration are critical for maintaining security progress and averting a resurgence of violence.
The counter-insurgency strategy in Nigeria simultaneously integrates military efforts with the rehabilitation of surrendered insurgents via Operation Safe Corridor, which commenced in 2016 to facilitate disarmament, deradicalization, and reintegration initiatives.
The programme is now poised for expansion beyond the North East, as more states affected by insurgency and banditry are seeking DRR camps to bolster their stabilization and recovery endeavors.
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