The Federal Government has revealed that over 300 former terrorists are currently undergoing rehabilitation at a government-run facility in Gombe State as part of ongoing efforts to restore peace through non-military means.
Major-General Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ and donors’ meeting. He said the initiative, known as Operation Safe Corridor, has already rehabilitated and reintegrated more than 2,600 low-risk former insurgents.
“These individuals receive psychosocial support, vocational skills, and assistance to return to society,” Laka said. “We now have over 300 clients currently going through the programme at the Mallam Sidi camp.”
- VIDEO: Woman Claiming to Be Chris Okafor’s Former Wife Makes Explosive Allegations
- I will not be vice-president to anybody ~ Peter Obi
- Israel recognises Somaliland as sovereign state
- 70-year-old Indian woman gives birth to her first child
- Ghanaian Prophet, Eboh Noah, Builds 8 Arks, Reveals God Has Warned Him That The World Will End On Christmas Day ~ Not By Fire, But By Another Global Flood.
- VIDEO: Pregnant wife bursts into tears as husband refuses to go beg neighbour Jollof rice
He added that more terrorists and armed bandits in Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions are showing willingness to surrender. Plans are underway to launch similar rehabilitation schemes in those areas.
However, Laka warned that poor economic prospects after reintegration pose a serious threat to the success of the programme.
“Many ex-combatants return to communities with no jobs or means of livelihood. Without sustainable reintegration, we risk losing the progress we’ve made,” he said.
To address this, Laka announced a new partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
The initiative will focus on agribusiness and provide access to farmland, training, inputs, mentorship, and market links for ex-combatants, widows, and others affected by conflict.
Speaking at the event, IITA’s Deputy Director-General, Dr. Abdoulaye Tahirau, described the project, Seeds for Hope, as a practical step toward peace. He said it aims to improve agricultural productivity while helping conflict survivors rebuild their lives.
Laka concluded by stressing that long-term peace depends on economic empowerment and meaningful second chances.
