More than 300,000 individuals identified as terrorists have surrendered to Nigerian military forces between 2016 and 2025, according to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ). The figure was disclosed by Major General Yusuf Ali, National Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), in an interview with THISDAY in Abuja on Friday. Of that number, 2,615 former fighters have completed the OPSC programme, which focuses on deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society. The initiative targets low-risk combatants, including those coerced into Boko Haram or ISWAP or abducted as children.
General Ali clarified that women and children among the surrenderees are not admitted into OPSC. Instead, they are transferred to their states of origin for care, with support from state governments and UNICEF. He emphasized that the programme is continuously adapting to Nigeria's evolving security landscape. Measures such as National Identification Number (NIN) registration are now used to track graduates after their six-month rehabilitation. Ali acknowledged global challenges in reintegration efforts, particularly community acceptance and victim support, and said the programme is incorporating more community engagement and victim-centred approaches.
