CDS: Disarmament, Reintegration of Repentant Terrorists Stop Violence Circle

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Olufemi Oluyede, has emphasised that while kinetic military operations created the conditions for stability, lasting peace could only be secured through structured disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration (DRR) of repentant terrorists to prevent a circle of violence.

He disclosed that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in collaboration with Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), has finalised modalities for transferring rehabilitated clients to relevant national and state authorities for reintegration into society.

Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, the CDS reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to peacebuilding and national recovery.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Operations, Major General Jamal Abdusalam, Oluyede—who also chaired the OPSC National Steering Committee—described Operation Safe Corridor as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s security architecture.

“Since its inception in 2016, Operation Safe Corridor has processed thousands of clients under a controlled and integrity-driven DRR framework. Properly screened surrender pathways weaken insurgent cohesion, generate actionable intelligence and contribute to long-term stability,” he said.

In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, noted that the meeting drew participants from key federal ministries, the Office of the National Security Adviser, state governments and neighbouring countries including Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

International partners present included Norway, United Kingdom, the European Union, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Organisation for Migration, among others.

Earlier, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, commended the CDS for his leadership, stating that the programme’s expansion was anchored on enhanced jointness, improved welfare and sound administration.

He described OPSC as a multi-agency humanitarian stabilisation initiative involving 17 services, ministries, departments and agencies, operating within constitutional and international humanitarian frameworks.

Ali revealed that 117 clients from Borno State recently completed the DRR process at Mallam Sidi Camp, while similar initiatives were expanding to the North West and North Central regions.

He added that ongoing consultations aimed to strengthen community reconciliation, psychosocial support and structured reintegration monitoring nationwide.

The meeting concluded with renewed commitments to coordinated rehabilitation efforts as a pathway to consolidating Nigeria’s security gains.