DHQ: Repentant terrorists not recruited for combat operations
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed a claim in the social media platform alleging that “repentant and active Boko Haram terrorists” are being armed to fight alongside the Nigerian military
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed a claim in the social media platform alleging that “repentant and active Boko Haram terrorists” are being armed to fight alongside the Nigerian military under Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC).
A Danish vlogger Jones Raw, had alleged in a widely circulated video that
repentant and active Boko Haram terrorists” are being armed to fight alongside the Nigerian military under OPSC. It
But the military high command debunked the claim, describing it as “false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.”
Speaking through the Coordinator of OPSC, Brig-Gen Yusuf Ali, on Tuesday, the DHQ said the facility depicted in the video is not an OPSC De-radicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) Camp.
Read Also: Insecurity being sponsored to distract Tinubu ahead of elections — Akpabio
Ali explained that the officially designated OPSC facility responsible for handling Boko Haram participants is located in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State, and “operates as a secured and controlled military environment.”
“The location shown in the video is clearly inconsistent with the OPSC facility, based on observable differences in structural design, layout, and operational setting.
“Additionally, the Danish blogger, Jones Raw, and the individuals featured in the video are not known to, nor have they ever been associated with, or granted access to the OPSC facility, rendering the claims not only inaccurate but deliberately misleading,” he said.
Ali emphasized that the OPSC operates with the engagement and support of reputable international partners, including the European Union, underscoring the programme’s compliance with international standards, transparency, and adherence to global best practices.
He noted that the OPSC “remains a strictly non-kinetic, multi-agency programme, designed to facilitate the de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration of carefully screened and profiled individuals.”
“At no point are participants armed, mobilized, or deployed for combat operations. Upon completion of the programme, participants are formally handed over to relevant state authorities for reintegration and remain within established monitoring frameworks.
“The programme continues to serve as a critical component of Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy by reducing the pool of fighters, encouraging voluntary disengagement, and supporting long-term national stability,” the Coordinator said.
He urged any individual, like the author of the “false” claim, or a group of interested and credible observers are invited to visit the OPSC DRR Camp in Mallam Sidi, “where the facts can be independently verified.”
