The Defence Headquarters has officially established Operation Safe Corridor in the North-Western zone of Nigeria, with its headquarters situated in Tsafe, Zamfara State.
This initiative aims to curb insecurity by providing a structured process for rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant terrorists who voluntarily surrender their arms.
During the official handover of office facilities that will serve as the operational headquarters, Governor Dauda Lawal reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting security efforts in combating criminal activities.
Operation Safe Corridor is a specialised military initiative designed to assist former insurgents and bandits in reintegrating into society.
The operation is structured around five key components: Disarmament, Demobilisation, De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration.
The programme has been successfully implemented in the North-East zone, targeting Boko Haram defectors. It is now being expanded to the North-West to address the ongoing security crisis in states such as Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, and Kaduna.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, represented by the Chief of Training and Operations at Defence Headquarters, Major General Emeka Onumajuru, highlighted the importance of the initiative in curbing terrorism and banditry through rehabilitation.
Similarly, Amb Mairo Abbas, a representative of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, urged state governments to establish a centre for the families of those willing to surrender, allowing for their de-radicalisation and rehabilitation.
He stated, “As we commence implementing this programme in the camp, we also need to consider the wives and children of those repentant bandits.
“The states would need to have a Holding Centre where the Ministry of Women Affairs could be empowered to provide de-radicalisation and rehabilitation, as having lived with the fighters, they too may harbour some ideas of radicalisation and criminal tendencies.
“So, it is essential for us to strive to de-radicalise and rehabilitate them so that they can become responsible citizens of this country once more.”
In his keynote address, Governor Lawal acknowledged the potential benefits of Operation Safe Corridor. He maintained that his administration would not engage in any form of dialogue or negotiation with terrorist groups.
However, he emphasised that his government is open to accepting any bandit willing to surrender their arms unconditionally.
The establishment of Operation Safe Corridor in the North-West is expected to complement ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region.
With the headquarters now in Zamfara State, security stakeholders are optimistic that the programme will help reduce violence and reintegrate ex-fighters who are prepared to abandon criminality.
