The Federal Government has revealed plans to establish a second Operation SAFE CORRIDOR Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Camp in Nigeria’s Northwest region, aiming to encourage willing low-risk terrorists and bandits to surrender their weapons.
The announcement comes as the country’s first rehabilitation center, established at Mallam Sidi in Gombe State, continues to process former combatants.
Major-General Adamu Garba Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), shared this development while hosting a delegation from the Alliance de Sahel representing Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger on their study tour of the existing facility.
Laka explained that Nigeria’s deradicalization efforts for former fighters began in 2015 within the Nigerian Correctional Service and have since expanded to other custodial centers due to their effectiveness.
“The programme aims to deradicalise, rehabilitate and reintegrate low-risk members of the terrorist group, with the goal of remoulding them into better citizens of the nation,” Laka stated.
“The camp has graduated almost 3,000 clients since inception. It is gladdening to inform you that the second Operation SAFE CORRIDOR DDR Camp will soon be operational in the Northwest region of Nigeria.”
He emphasized that international cooperation remains crucial in counter-terrorism initiatives, allowing countries to share intelligence, resources, and expertise.
Laka highlighted how Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin Republic have demonstrated this collaborative approach both in military operations and non-violent strategies through the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Multinational Joint Task Force.
Meanwhile, Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda has made his position clear regarding negotiations with armed groups.
While firmly stating his administration would not negotiate with terrorists, he indicated openness to reintegrating those who voluntarily abandon violence.
“We will not seek out terrorists in the forest to negotiate. However, if they voluntarily surrender, renounce violence, and choose to become law-abiding citizens, we are open to reintegrating them to society,” Radda clarified.
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