The Federal Government has disclosed that over 300 repentant terrorists are currently undergoing rehabilitation as part of its ongoing efforts to combat terrorism through non-violent means.
Major-General Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, revealed this on Thursday, August 7, 2025, during a high-level meeting with stakeholders and donors in Abuja. The meeting focused on promoting livelihood and agricultural opportunities for former combatants and communities affected by conflict, according to reports by Punch.
Laka explained that this effort continues the government’s deradicalisation and reintegration program under Operation Safe Corridor. To date, more than 2,600 former fighters have completed rehabilitation at the Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State.
The 300 individuals currently in rehabilitation are among those who voluntarily surrendered in recent months, primarily from Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions.
“Operation Safe Corridor, a deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration program based in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State, has graduated over 2,600 low-risk former combatants,” Laka said. “These individuals have received psychosocial support, vocational training, and assistance for reintegration. At present, over 300 clients remain in the camp undergoing the process.”
He further noted an increasing willingness among terrorists and bandits to surrender in the North-West and North-Central areas, with plans underway to develop tailored Disarmament, Deradicalisation, and Reintegration (DDR) programs for these regions.
However, Laka cautioned that many repentant terrorists face limited opportunities after reintegration, a challenge that could undermine the progress made through rehabilitation.
“One important lesson from past DDR efforts is the urgent need for sustainable economic reintegration. Many former clients encounter uncertainty and few opportunities once reintegrated, which threatens the gains achieved during rehabilitation,” he said.
In response, the government is launching a new agribusiness and livelihood initiative in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. The program aims to support sustainable reintegration by providing access to land, farming inputs, training, mentorship, and market opportunities.
The initiative targets not only repentant terrorists but also widows and members of conflict-affected communities. Six states have already expressed interest in hosting the project.
“Empowering individuals and restoring livelihoods is crucial for lasting peace and preventing the resurgence of extremist ideologies,” Laka emphasized. “This new project will offer land access, inputs, training, mentorship, and market linkages to former clients of the federal government’s DDR program, alongside widows and communities impacted by conflict.”
