Defence Headquarters prepares handover to states as ex-combatants complete deradicalisation and rehabilitation programme

No fewer than 117 repentant terrorists from Borno State have successfully completed the Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) programme under Operation Safe Corridor.

The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, February 19, 2026. He said the development was announced during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

According to Uba, the meeting, held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, focused on finalising the modalities for the transfer of the rehabilitated individuals to relevant national and state authorities for reintegration into society.

He explained that the engagement brought together key stakeholders to ensure a coordinated and seamless reintegration process, in line with the objectives of Operation Safe Corridor, which is designed to deradicalise, rehabilitate and reintegrate repentant former insurgents.

The military reiterated its commitment to non-kinetic approaches in addressing insurgency, stressing that successful reintegration remains critical to long-term peace and stability in conflict-affected communities.