Operation Safe Corridor meant to curb terrorists’ recruitment, says DHQ
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) was established as part of a broader and structured counter-terrorism strategy designed to prevent the recruitment of terrorists, encourage surrender,
- From Musa Umar Bologi, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) was established as part of a broader and structured counter-terrorism strategy designed to prevent the recruitment of terrorists, encourage surrender, and promote long-term stability.
The DHQ explained that contrary to concerns from some quarters, the programme is not about leniency towards terrorists but functions as a non-kinetic strategy aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating “low-risk combatants, many of whom were coerced through forced recruitment or abduction”.
Speaking through the OPSC Coordinator, Brig.-Gen. Yusuf Ali in an interview with The Nation, the military high command said the programme is helping to curb violent extremism in parts of the country.
Aloi said: “We understand the concerns of some people, especially those from communities that have suffered deeply, who perceive the programme as being lenient towards former insurgents. “These concerns are valid and must be acknowledged with empathy and responsibility. However, let me be very clear: Operation Safe Corridor is not about leniency; it is about national security strategy and, more importantly, it forms part of a broader, structured approach to counterterrorism in Nigeria.
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“While the military continues to apply necessary kinetic pressure on terrorist groups, this programme provides a controlled and structured pathway to disengage individuals from violence, reduce the fighting strength of these groups, and ultimately weaken their operational capacity from within.
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“In every conflict, there are different categories of individuals. Not everyone within these groups is a hardened or ideologically committed combatant. A significant number, based on research and field experience, were coerced, abducted, manipulated, or forced into participation. Some were children at the time of recruitment, while others were caught in conflict dynamics with very limited choices. For such individuals, deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration are not merely security measures; they also represent a form of restorative justice.
“If this pathway — Operation Safe Corridor — is removed entirely, many individuals would remain trapped within violent systems with no incentive to surrender. This would prolong the conflict, sustain recruitment pipelines, and increase the burden on kinetic operations.
“By providing a controlled exit, the programme reduces manpower available to these terrorist groups and encourages further defections.”
The OPSC Coordinator explained that the programme offers the “low-risk combatants” and an opportunity to transition from a cycle of violence to lawful living.
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He said it also enables repentant terrorists to undergo a structured process that includes screening, accountability, behavioural assessment, and rehabilitation.
Ali stressed that the programme also includes a structured monitoring and evaluation framework designed to track participants after reintegration.
The OPSC coordinator said the programme is not a universal approach but carefully structured to distinguish low-risk combatants from high-risk ones.
He added: “The programme is not a blanket approach. Those assessed as high-risk or have committed prosecutable offences are not simply reintegrated.
“There is a clear distinction between those who must face the justice system and those eligible for rehabilitation based on established criteria.”
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Ali stated that the programme aligns with modern counter-insurgency and counterterrorism strategies that extend beyond the use of force, combining security operations with rehabilitation, reintegration, and community-based recovery.
“It is not about rewarding wrongdoing but about reducing violence, disrupting terrorist recruitment, encouraging surrender, and promoting long-term stability.
“At the same time, we’ll continue to strengthen screening processes, improve transparency, and expand engagement with communities and victims to maintain public
