FG: Over 300 Repentant Terrorists Undergoing Rehabilitation, 2,600 Already Reintegrated
The Federal Government has announced that more than 300 repentant terrorists are currently undergoing rehabilitation as part of its non-kinetic strategy to combat terrorism.
Major-General Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, made the disclosure on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at a high-level stakeholders’ and donors’ meeting in Abuja. The event focused on promoting livelihood and agricultural support for ex-combatants and conflict-affected communities, according to Punch.
Laka explained that the initiative is under the government’s Operation Safe Corridor, a Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) programme based in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State.
“So far, over 2,600 low-risk former combatants have successfully graduated from the programme,” he said. “Currently, more than 300 are undergoing psychosocial support, vocational training, and reintegration assistance.”
The majority of the current participants are former fighters who voluntarily surrendered in recent months, mainly from the North-West and North-Central regions.
He noted a growing number of terrorists and bandits in these regions are showing willingness to surrender, prompting plans to expand DRR efforts to better suit regional dynamics.
However, Laka emphasized the challenge of limited economic opportunities for reintegrated individuals, warning that this could undermine the long-term success of the programme.
“One of the biggest lessons from past DRR efforts is the critical need for sustainable reintegration pathways,” he said. “Many former clients face uncertainty once reintegrated, which can erode the progress made during rehabilitation.”
To address this, the federal government is launching a new agribusiness and livelihood initiative in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The programme will provide access to land, farming inputs, training, mentorship, and market linkages.
The initiative targets not only repentant terrorists but also widows and members of conflict-affected communities, with six states already expressing interest in hosting the project.
“Strategies that restore livelihoods are key to building lasting peace and preventing the resurgence of extremist ideologies,” Laka added.
