Olushola Omogbehin
Following the news of the graduation and reintegration of former terrorists back into the Nigerian society on Thursday, many Nigerians have expressed concerns over the move by the Federal Government.
No fewer than 744 former terrorists and victims of violent extremism on Thursday graduated from the Federal Government’s De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Camp under Operation Safe Corridor.
Speaking during the event which took place in Gombe State, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, said the initiative is “not a reward” for violence but a strategic tool to curb extremism.
“This is not a reward but a deliberate strategy to reduce violence, weaken extremist recruitment and promote long-term stability.”
Oluyede who was represented by the Director, Special Operations Forces at Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Kabiru Tanimu, said the programme was designed to address the human dimensions of insurgency and promote lasting peace.
“This moment is not just a ceremony; it is a statement of progress, a demonstration of national resolve and a testimony to the power of strategic thinking in addressing human dimensions of conflict,” he said
Speaking further, he said “Operation Safe Corridor represents Nigeria’s firm belief that while kinetic operations are necessary to neutralise threats, lasting peace can only be achieved when we address the underlying drivers of de-radicalisation, disengagement and reintegration,” he said.
He urged the ex-terrorists to embrace a new path, warning against a return to violence.
“Nigeria is giving you a second chance; do not waste it. You are returning not just to your communities but to a responsibility to live peacefully, to contribute meaningfully and to reject all forms of violence and extremism,” he said.
Clarifying the initiative from amnesty programme, he said: “Operation Safe Corridor is not an amnesty programme, and it is not a sign of weakness. It complements military operations by addressing the human threats of conflict, reducing recidivism and weakening the ideological foundations of violent extremism.”
However, many Nigerians have faulted the initiative by questioning the justification for freeing repentant terrorists when the nation is yet to heave a sigh of relief from terrorism.
Speaking with THE POINT during an interview, a civil servant, Gbenga Ajayi said “A leopard can never change its skin. These people (former terrorists) have been indoctrinated and firmly initiated, no amount of sermon or the so-called rehabilitation programme can change them.
“If you check very well, ever since this de-radicalisation programme started, there hasn’t been any concrete improvement in the nation’s security. Instead, it has been worsening on a daily basis. These terrorists were camped because they were arrested, not that they freely surrendered. So, I think the Federal Government should start having a rethink and get to give killers and those who inflict terror the punishment they deserve. Releasing them to the society will keep worsening out situation.”
A human right activist and legal practitioner, Dr Maxwell Okpara has also condemned the act, saying that the families of slain citizens and military officers would be more pained seeing the killers of their loved ones walking freely.
Speaking on Arise TV this morning, Okpara who vowed to challenge this move in court questioned the modalities used to differentiate those rehabilitated from those in different correctional centres across the country.
Among the 744 graduates, two are from Abia State, 10 from Adamawa State, one from Akwa Ibom State, two from Anambra State, 12 from Bauchi State, 597 from Borno State, three from Ebonyi State, one from Enugu State, 15 from Kano State, three from Katsina State, one from Kebbi State and five from Kogi State.
Nasarawa State has four, Niger State two, two from Plateau State, two from Sokoto State, and 58 from Yobe State. There were also foreigners among them, one from Burkina Faso, one from Cameroon, two from Chad, and four from the Niger Republic with 733 of the graduates being Muslims, while 11 are Christians.
