The Federal Government has confirmed that more than 300 repentant terrorists are currently undergoing rehabilitation, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote peace and national security through the deradicalisation and reintegration of ex-combatants.
This revelation was made by Major-General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), during a high-level meeting with stakeholders and development partners held in Abuja on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
The meeting focused on enhancing livelihood and agricultural opportunities for both former fighters and communities affected by conflict.
Major-General Laka stated that the current group of 300 individuals in rehabilitation comprises former terrorists who voluntarily surrendered in recent months, particularly from the North-West and North-Central regions of Nigeria.
“Currently, there are over 300 clients at the Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State undergoing psychosocial support, vocational training, and reintegration assistance. These are individuals assessed as low-risk and committed to abandoning violence,” he said.
He noted that this effort is a continuation of the Federal Government’s Operation Safe Corridor—a flagship initiative launched to rehabilitate, deradicalise, and reintegrate repentant fighters into society. Since its inception, the programme has successfully graduated over 2,600 ex-combatants from its centre in Gombe.
However, Laka expressed concern over the limited post-rehabilitation opportunities available to many of these individuals, stressing that lack of sustainable reintegration pathways could undermine the progress made so far.
“One of the key lessons from past Disarmament, Deradicalisation, and Reintegration (DDR) efforts is the urgent need to establish reliable and sustainable economic reintegration routes. Without economic inclusion, many ex-clients are left in a state of uncertainty, which may threaten the long-term success of the programme,” he warned.
To address this challenge, the Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has launched a new agribusiness and livelihood development initiative aimed at ensuring sustainable reintegration for ex-combatants, widows, and vulnerable groups from conflict-impacted communities.
The initiative will provide access to land, agricultural inputs, skills training, mentorship, and market linkages to help participants rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
“This project is not limited to rehabilitated terrorists. It also extends support to widows and other affected persons within communities that have suffered from conflict,” Laka noted. “So far, six states have expressed interest in hosting the programme.”
He emphasized that empowering individuals through productive livelihood strategies is critical to building enduring peace and curbing the resurgence of extremist ideologies.
“Strategies that restore livelihoods and promote economic inclusion are vital to sustaining peace and national security,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, authorities say more terrorists and bandits, especially in the North-West and North-Central, have shown willingness to surrender.
In response, the government is working on replicating Operation Safe Corridor in other parts of the country, with region-specific disarmament and reintegration programmes currently being designed.