The Federal Government has announced that over 300 repentant terrorists are currently undergoing rehabilitation as part of its non-kinetic approach to countering terrorism, according to Major-General Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ and donors’ meeting in Abuja on Thursday, August 7, 2025, Laka revealed that the initiative is a continuation of the government’s Operation Safe Corridor, a radicalisation and reintegration program aimed at reintegrating former combatants into society.
Laka disclosed that over 2,600 low-risk former fighters have already graduated from the rehabilitation program at the Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State, where they received psychosocial support, vocational training, and reintegration assistance.
The 300 individuals currently in the program, primarily from the North-West and North-Central regions, voluntarily surrendered in recent months.
“Operation Safe Corridor has so far graduated over 2,600 former combatants. Currently, there are over 300 clients in the camp undergoing the process,” Laka stated, as reported by Punch.
Highlighting the growing willingness of terrorists and bandits to surrender, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions, Laka noted that efforts are underway to design tailored Disarmament, Deradicalisation, and Reintegration (DDR) programs for these areas.
However, he cautioned that limited economic opportunities for reintegrated individuals could undermine the program’s success.
“One of the key lessons from previous DDR experiences is the urgent need for sustainable economic reintegration pathways.
Many former clients face uncertainty and limited opportunities once reintegrated, which can threaten the gains of the rehabilitation process,” he said.
To address this, the NCTC, in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has launched a new agribusiness and livelihood initiative.
The program aims to provide sustainable reintegration by offering access to land, agricultural inputs, training, mentorship, and market opportunities.
Notably, the initiative extends beyond repentant terrorists to include widows and members of conflict-affected communities.
Six states have already expressed interest in hosting the project.
“Strategies that empower individuals and restore livelihoods are essential to building lasting peace and preventing the resurgence of extremist ideologies,” Laka emphasized.
The initiative reflects the government’s broader commitment to tackling terrorism through non-military means, fostering peace, and rebuilding communities affected by conflict.
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