FG Moves To Reintegrate 744 Ex-Terrorists, Foreign Nationals Into Society

According to Ireporter Online, no fewer than 744 former terrorists and victims of violent extremism are set to return to civilian life after graduating from the Federal Government’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Programme under Operation Safe Corridor.

The beneficiaries, largely drawn from Nigeria’s North-East, also include foreign nationals from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, and the Niger Republic. They are said to have undergone months of structured rehabilitation involving psychosocial support, vocational training, religious reorientation, and civic education, all aimed at preparing them for peaceful reintegration into society.

The graduation ceremony, held in Gombe State, was attended by senior military officials. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, represented by the Director of Special Operations Forces at Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Kabiru Tanimu, stated that the initiative is part of a broader national strategy to address violent extremism and strengthen long-term peace and stability.

He stressed that the programme should not be misconstrued as an amnesty, but rather a structured intervention designed to reduce insurgency, discourage extremist recruitment, and support national security objectives. He further noted that the success of the reintegration process would depend on community acceptance, effective monitoring, and continued collaboration with state and local authorities.

The breakdown of participants shows a wide geographical spread across Nigeria, with the majority from Borno State, alongside others from states including Yobe, Adamawa, Kano, Bauchi, and several others. The cohort also includes individuals of different religious backgrounds.